Mark Sconce begins with a simple
declarative sentence: A taxi drops off
a passenger at the Ajijic cemetary—
El Panteon. Thereafter, we take a
fascinating journey back in time.

27 TRIVIA

(YHU\RQH FDQ QDPH WKH ¿UVW SUHVLdent of the United States, right? Not
necessarily.

29 LITERARY HISTORY
Liz Larrabee fantasizes about living in
Paris during the 1920’s and laments
the loss of F. Scott Fitzgerald,
Ernest Hemingway, and later Albert
Camus—all of whom died too soon
to suit her.

44

STREET SCENE

Marion Fischman relates a true story
about coming across a person who
has fainted on a street in Guadalajara—and how dangerous it is to make
snap judgments.

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Distribución: Hidalgo 223 Chapala, Jalisco,
México.
All contents are fully protected by copyright
and may not be reproduced without the written
consent of El Ojo del Lago. Opinions expressed
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views of the Publisher or the Editor, nor are we
responsible for the claims made by our advertisers. We welcome letters, which should include
name, address and telephone number.

igmund Freud once said that
a person’s disposition is often set by the age of five—
and perhaps this was true of Robin
Williams. Raised in a wealthy suburb of
Detroit, his father was an executive with
one of the auto industry’s Big Three car
companies, but neither he nor his wife
spent much time with Robin, who was
an only child. Years later, he would recall that left alone to play with dozens
of expensive toys, he tried to break the
solitude by giving them all names and
voices. Later, as a chubby, small child in
grade school, he would often use humor
to disarm schoolyard bullies; so despite
a privileged background, and perhaps
from an early age, he came to regard life
as something to be endured rather than
enjoyed.
Luckily for him (and much of the rest
of the world, as well!), he discovered
that he did greatly enjoy acting, and after high school enrolled at the Julliard
School in NYC, where he became best
friends with Christopher Reeve. Many
years later, after Reeves’ fall from a horse
had left him crippled for life, the handsome actor would recall that his good
friend was the first to visit him in the hospital, storming into an intensive care unit
fully dressed in a doctor’s scrubs, sporting a foreign accent and announcing to
Reeves that he was a Polish proctologist
there to conduct a personal examination. Reeves later said that had he not

6

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

been strapped to a table, he would have
fallen to the floor with laughter.
The mold had been set, and it was
only a matter of time before the comic
was hired on Mork and Mindy, which
soon became one of the most successful TV shows of all time, often playing
to some 60 million viewers each week!
In another great stroke of luck, Williams
would meet Jonathan Winters, who became his idol, mentor and fellow space
traveler, but whose own life would end
sadly.
Winters, though a great improvisational artist, lacked the young actor’s
depth and range, talents that would
eventually bring Williams many of the
entertainment world’s most prestigious
awards. But there was more at work here
than mere critical and financial success.
A famous French writer once said that up
until age 40, God is responsible for what
we look like; after that, we are. Ultimately, Robin Williams came to look like the
man he had become: a noble humanitarian, spokesman for the disenchanted
and disenfranchised and a proud vessel
harboring a talent for the ages.
In his relatively brief lifetime, he
raised tens of millions of dollars for
the homeless, this among many other
worthwhile causes—and like Oscar
Wilde, another unique talent, he knew
that if you purport to tell people the
sad truth, the best way is to make them
laugh. In doing this, he became like a
great clown who could make people’s
eyes dance with mirth even as his own
filled with tears.
My first thought upon hearing that
this magnificent human being had committed suicide was of Frank Capra’s immortal film It’s a Wonderful Life. Made in
1946, the movie is today a perennial holiday favorite with TV audiences all over

the world. For those unfamiliar with the
story, it deals with a small town businessman who believing that his life has been
a total failure finally attempts to kill himself. But he is saved by an “angel,” who to
prove to him that he is not a failure, takes
him back in time to show him that he did
far more good than he had ever known.
His life had touched so many others
whose own lives had become better
because of him. The original inspiration
for the movie’s script had been a single
sentence from a 1930’s greeting card: No
man is a failure who has made at least one
friend in his life.
Robin Williams made tens of millions

of them, but still he who had brought so
much joy to so many people could no
longer find it for himself. Where was Capra’s angel when we really needed him?
On the subject of angels, a quote
by Shakespeare lamenting the death of
another good man
who died too soon
seems appropriate: “Now cracks
a noble heart.
Good-night, sweet
prince; and flights
of angels sing
thee to thy rest.”
Alejandro GrattanDominguez

n recent months, there has
been an influx across the
southern U.S. border of approximately 57,000 children from El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras,
most unaccompanied by their parents. Ordinarily, the sight of impoverished, homeless, abandoned, mostly
parent-less children would inspire
compassion among adults. Instead, we
have been treated to the spectacle of
frenzied mobs shouting at buses transporting the unfortunate passengers to
inadequate sanctuaries.
President Obama has asked Congress to authorize $3.7 billion to address the crisis. The funds would be
used to provide detention, care and
transportation for the children, to increase the capacity of immigration
courts, prosecute those who traffic in
humans, increase border surveillance
and assist Central American nations in
repatriating the refugees.
The children are innocent victims,
trapped in a vicious cycle, chess pieces
in a cruel and barbarous geopolitical
game. Many have fled violence and
predation in their home countries.
They did not ask to be brought into this
world, and they are not at fault for their
plight.
Local resources are inadequate to
deal with the situation, and it is unfair
to expect states such as New Mexico
and Texas to bear the burden alone.
This is not a state or local problem, and
it cannot be solved on a state or local
level.
In many cases, cruel traffickers have
profited from the plight of these desperate ones, assuring them that once
inside the US, they will be allowed to
remain. Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois has urged the prosecution of these
so-called “coyotes.” Little has been said
regarding Mexican officials complicit
in the transportation of the refugees
across 1500 miles of their territory.
Most of the refugees are fleeing
Honduras, which, according to the
UN Office on Drugs and Crime, has
the world’s highest per capita murder
rate. Honduras suffers from a stagnant

8

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

economy as well as political instability.
The World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund have both labeled it a
Heavily Indebted Poor Country. Human
rights workers and reformers are routinely harassed, beaten and even murdered, with government complicity.
In a 2009 coup d’état, condemned
by the OAS and the UN, the Honduran
president was ousted and replaced by
the leader of the congress. Only the US
regarded the move as legal. In Honduras, where the birth rate hovers at 3.7
per woman, the government is currently attempting to criminalize emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not abortophasic. With an
estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 Hondurans already living in the US and more
in Spain and throughout the Americas,
Honduras should not be discouraging
contraception.
In the 1980’s, Honduras hosted the
world’s largest Peace Corps mission.
At the same time, there is suspicion
that the CIA supported a campaign of
extra-judicial killings by the military
while combating Marxist guerrillas. The
US has been in dire need of a rational
immigration policy for decades. Meaningful reform has often been thwarted
by employers, particularly in agriculture, eager to profit from a population
of undocumented workers willing to
work for low wages and under harsh
conditions.
When I was very young, I worked
alongside Puerto Rican migrant workers in the steaming summer fields of an
Ohio truck farm. I was shocked and angered by the degradation they suffered
and by the grower’s overbearing, supercilious attitude toward those men
whom I had come to know as friends.
Today, as the nation lurches out
from under the Great Recession, undocumented workers are met with
increasing hostility. Recent demonstrations in California and elsewhere
are especially repugnant, with protestors flourishing the American flag as a
symbol not of freedom and hope but
of ugliness and hatred. One wonders
if the protestors would be so fervent if

the refugees hailed from Canada. The
dark specter of racism looms over the
debate.
President Bush signed into law a
bill requiring illegal immigrants from
Latin countries other than Mexico to
be granted a hearing before being sent
back to their homelands, ostensibly in
order to protect women and children
from trafficking and sex slavery. The
immigration courts frequently take one
to three years before hearing a case.
Simply dumping the immigrants
back into the societies from which they
have fled would be illegal under current US law. Small, parentless children
would be easy prey for human predators. While tighter border security is
required to end the current stampede,
the situations of those already here
need to be evaluated on a case-bycase basis.
Undocumented immigrants help
drive US population growth, contributing to widespread loss of habitat and
biodiversity. Recently, Science Magazine postulated that the world is facing
its sixth great extinction because of
overpopulation. As always, the problems of human suffering and environmental depletion cannot be separated.
Overpopulation and the consequential depletion of natural resources exacerbate all other issues. Family
planning and contraceptive services
on a global level would do much in the
long run to ameliorate conditions such
as those in Honduras and throughout
much of Latin America. A necessary
prerequisite is the empowerment of
women, especially with regard to the
ever-controversial issue of reproductive rights. Any doctrine encouraging
population growth anywhere, whether
promoted by governments, religious
organizations or macho bullies needs
to be soundly rejected.
The US cannot unilaterally reform
Honduras. Altering the manner in
which a society thinks and acts from
the bottom up dwarfs the seven labors
of Hercules. Our efforts will meet with
limited success in a region where the

charge of Yankee Imperialism still resonates.
The scenes along the US southern
border will be repeated many times
in the future, as societies collapse beneath the burdens of too many people
and too few resources. In his prescient
study, “The Coming Anarchy,” Robert
Kaplan warns that conflicts will arise
over scarce water and topsoil resources
in the 21st century, as they have over
petroleum reserves in the 20th.
Simple solutions, raging rhetoric
and the latest outbursts of Congressional Newspeak only worsen a tragic
situation. The President has offered a
responsible plan. It is time for Congress
to step up to the plate.
Many countries in the world today
are economic and societal failures, as is
evidenced by the number of their citizens eager to flee elsewhere. To simply
move on to a new place after devouring one’s own country from beneath
oneself is no solution to world poverty
and the depletion of natural resources. No country, including the US, can
admit everyone who wants to enter,
whether legally or illegally. To do so invites chaos.
In the meantime, humane treatment is required for those whom the
great prophets of the Old Testament
would have called “sojourners” among
us. Given that the infant Jesus Christ
was himself a refugee in a strange land,
those who profess to follow him need
to ask themselves whether they will
behave like the Good Samaritan or like
the Scribe and the Pharisee who, when
confronted by the sufferings of a crime
victim, chose to look the other way. Before submerging one’s mind and soul
in the jingoistic
mob, it might be
wise to remember
the words, “What
you did not do for
one of these least
ones, you did not
do for me.”
Lorin Swinehart

Saw you in the Ojo

9

Anyone Can Train Their Dog
%\$UW+HVV
artthedogguy@yahoo.com

Fishing in a Cranberry Bog

I

read a cute story awhile back
about a couple of Good Ole
Boys who loved ice fishing.
Seems they heard of a good spot a couple of hours away so they gathered their
gear and headed out early on the next
Saturday. When they got to where they
thought the fishing was, they stopped
at a store and asked if this was the spot
where the fishing was supposed to be
pretty good. The proprietor obliged and
gave them directions, and they filled the
coffee thermos and went down the road.
Shortly they found the suggested
area and started to look for likely ponds
and sure enough it wasn’t long before
they noticed open spaces covered with
snow so they pulled in, kicked some

10

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

snow aside and decided that this was
possible.
It wasn’t long before they had the
gear unloaded, chopped a couple of
holes in the ice, set up the wind breaks,
and proceeded to get some lines in the
water. Before long they were enjoying
the coffee and telling fish stories. The
best part of ice fishing. You do know it’s
called fishing, not catching.
After about an hour they weren’t getting any action and suddenly a pickup
came through the gate and drove right
over to where they were. A tall gent
stepped out and asked what they were
doing, whereupon they both replied ,
“Ice fishing, what does it look like?” The
gent said well you won’t catch anything

there because you’re fishing in a cranberry bog.
Now, normally they would have sat
there for a few hours and started to talk
of all the reasons they weren’t getting
any bites. You know, we have the wrong
bait, the fish are in a different part of the
pond, and on and on. We all are inclined
to blame everything but ourselves for
our failures but luckily for these two, a
nice man pointed out they were fishing
in a cranberry bog.
Now how does this relate to dog
training you’re thinking and I’m glad you
asked.
I get lots of calls or I go see people
and when I ask how I can help them, the
answer always starts out “My dog won’t
come when called, won’t walk on a
loose leash, won’t stop jumping up, etc.,
etc.” You fill in the blanks. It seems the
problem is never at the other end of the
leash. It’s always the dog’s fault when the
solution rests with the person.
Here’s the deal. Quit worrying about
the problem and work on the solution.
Teach your dog what
you want him to do instead of nagging him
about what you don’t
want him to do. Get
the answers first so
you’re not caught fishing in a cranberry bog.
Art Hess

THE ART OF SILENCE
%\%ODQFD6DOD]DU

T

ake a deep breath. This is
very important to live a
healthy life, to enjoy the
pleasure of listening to your silent
voice. Deep breathing is such a good
experience because it helps us to
come back to the principal fountain
of energy which is beating in ourhearts. It invites us to practice the
awareness of mental silence, guiding
us to find an easy way to face all the
challenges in this interesting world.
Breathing is the vital necessity of
life. Human beings have tainted their
daily lives with accelerated pace to
such a degree that all the work they
generate becomes automatic and the
common result is stress. Since childhood, ‘fulfilling obligations’ is the task
imposed on us, and responsibility
and discipline are healthy habits to
develop, even though they do eventually become overkill. Unconsciously, we have forgotten that inner peace
is the main nutrient of soul and body.
Making time and space for silence
in our minds returns neurons to their
vital source, restores and stabilizes
the functioning of the brain and allows for clearer ideas to be generated as well as healing of the body.
The habit of tranquility and calm is
so easy to lose in these fast times that
we live. Everything that is put in front
of you can be trampled and pushed
aside, without giving your mind some
silence to regenerate itself.
Mental stillness is not a conquest; it is a part of human nature. To
achieve these periods of mental silence, one only needs to be refreshed
by that pleasant feeling of being in
a place without doing anything. Just
be… observing, witnessing the existence of aromas and colors, sounds
and rhythms around you; perceive
without judgment or qualifications,
without the mind…flow with your
breath.
Go beyond yourself, releasing
thoughts, emotions and feelings, beyond the mind as a witness or observer. In the beginning, this is the hardest
thing to do; sit and be quiet, allowing

relaxation to take over effortlessly.
Enter a state of ‘non-doing.’ Allow the
mind to be cleansed daily, so that it
is fresh to encounter life’s new stories each day. Only by activating the
consciousness of the observer, without useless grand standing, can one’s
mental alertness be improved.
Don’t just let life happen and
witness it without letting it enter
the mind and watching with empty
eyes. Remain silent and collect your
thoughts and be with yourself. Staying aware that deep and conscious
breathing is the perfect exercise to
learn how to live well in harmony and
peaceful silence. Being in the present
is living in the present. Put aside the
past, break from immediate reflection of the future. The past is a memory and the future is a product of the
imagination.
Children respond to sounds with
the consciousness of enjoying every second, with no expectations. As
adults, it is important for us to pause
and experience silence at least three
times a day. During these periods of
silence, there is nothing- no fear, no
ego, no doubts, no ambitions, no
competition; there is just the feeling
of recognizing yourself as the Supreme Being that you are. Value your
life with complete freedom.
As you sit quietly, observe that
there is no more chaos that exists in
your mind. This freedom from mental
clutter is necessary to put the mind
in order to enjoy the wonderful little
flash we call spiritual orgasm during
an infinite moment of joy and love,
which proclaims itself in every being.
During absolute silence, all sensations fade to allow the best things
to happen in a state of calm and inner peace. Panda,
The Apprentice,
recognizes that
silence is the best
tool to deal with
the EGO, which
is said to be the
main cause of suffering.
Blanca Salazar

Saw you in the Ojo 11

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The air is cool and a weak dawn filters through the clouds as I rub sleep
from my eyes and hope that there’s
someplace to buy coffee at this early
hour. The heavy clouds seem to bode
ill for a Machu Picchu sunrise, but visitors are undeterred as they queue up
on a street corner waiting to board
one of the busses that ferry everyone
but Inca Trail hikers up the mountain
and back.
The dirt road on which it ascends
is full of switchback curves and narrow
enough that the bus often has to back
up a few yards to allow returning vehicles to pass.
Machu Picchu’s altitude is nearly a
quarter of a mile higher than Aguascalientes’, and for the better part of a half hour the
bus passes through the changing vegetation of several microclimates.
The entrance gate sits above most of the archeological site, but the famous panoramic view can only be seen from the hillside above.
The lookout seems like a good place to gain bearings before diving into the ruins
below.
Wisps of clouds hang over
the site and hover around the
backdrop mountains, lending
an otherworldly quality to the
scene.
It would take an Ansel Adams to do justice to this stunning landscape.
Even at this hour, the overlook is crowded with earlier
arrivals, including backpackers who’ve just hiked in on the
Inca Trail. Everyone seems to
want a selfie with the ruins in
the background.
The
complex
below
doesn’t at first seem so big until I begin to measure heights
and distances against the antlike streams of people passing
through it.
I’m surprised to see the
Urubamba River passing within hundreds of yards more than a thousand feet below, for it rarely appears in photos.
In hindsight, though, it comes as no surprise that this inaccessible place was nevertheless built close to the Sacred Valley’s heartbeat.
At Machu Picchu, everything seen earlier in bits and pieces at Pisac and Ollantaytambo – the rounded temple walls with immaculately fitted stones, the terraces and
homes, and the granaries and cemetery – are all pulled together in one incredible
design.
Less than half of the ruins have been restored, but even in its unfinished state

12

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

it is just as unquestionably
original as it is a masterpiece.
The sun at last stabs
through the clouds in a
single beam that cuts all
the way to the valley floor.
In less than twenty
minutes the veil of clouds
completely lifts and the ruins are bathed in sunlight.
On the mountainside
above, the Inca Trail winds
its way down nearly 6,000
feet from its peak to pass through what was once the city’s main gate.
A family of alpaca grazes on a meadow amidst the ruins, eyeing the photographers that surround them, but otherwise as indifferent as sacred cows.
The Inca are so often presented as shapers of land that it’s interesting to see how
they also integrated natural formations into their architecture. Only the Roman ruins
at Ephesus compare with the scope and sophistication of Machu Picchu, but there’s a
different feel to this place.
Clustered around temples set within a natural cathedral, it’s a place that impresses
the visitor even more with its spirituality than with its construction. It’s a feeling that
recurs often in the Sacred Valley.
This site was abandoned less than 100 years after its completion as a consequence of the Conquest, which lends a particular sadness to its majesty.
Like Pompeii, it cannot help but evoke the sorrow of leaving home unwillingly and in haste, and it leaves forever open
the question of what might have been.
The train departs tomorrow afternoon, retracing the
tracks to Ollantaytambo and then turning into the mountains
before arriving at Cusco. Come along for a walk about the
Inca capital.
Antonio Ramblés

he Lakeside Little Theatre
is offering us seven plays
this season, and in addition we’ve already been delighted
by the special NTLive showing
of War Horse. There will be more
special screenings direct from London’s National Theatre, with tickets
available only to LLT members. The
first play is The Last Romance, a bittersweet comedy by Joe Di Pietro,
directed by Ann Swiston. Currently
running through September 7, it’s a
fundraiser to help pay for the solar
installation and many structural improvements to the theater, and is not
included in the six-play season ticket
package.
The normal season begins in October with Yasmina Reza’s awardwinning comedy God Of Carnage,
directed by Roseann Wilshere. It’s a
comedy with the gloves off, after the
style of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,
and we can expect fireworks from
the four-person cast. Then, in November, we look forward to Betrayal
– a classic Harold Pinter play directed by Neal Checkoway. Finally, with
plenty of belly-laughs at the end of
2014, LLT is putting on an adult musical comedy Sinderella in the British
Pantomime tradition. No doubt the
Ugly Sisters will be hairy men in frilly
dresses, and Prince Charming will
have lovely legs. This Christmas offering has been created by Dave McIntosh, and will be directed by Paul
Kloegman.
In 2015, we’ll see Wrong Turn At
Lungfish by Garry Marshall and Low-

14

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

ell Ganz, directed by Peggy Lord
Chilton. If you enjoyed the movie In
Her Shoes with Cameron Diaz as a
sexy young woman learning to read
and to respect herself by reading
poetry to a blind and dying English
Literature professor, you’ll also enjoy
this Pygmalion-type play. At the end
of February, there will be the steamy
Tennessee Williams drama The Night
of The Iguana, directed by Dave McIntosh. And this 50th anniversary
season will wind up with The Dixie
Swim Club by Jessie Jones, Nicholas
Hope and Jamie Wooten, directed
by Barbara Clippinger. It’s a touching comedy-drama featuring five
Southern women whose friendships
began many years ago on their college swim team. Every August, free
from husbands, kids and jobs, they
get together to catch up, laugh and
meddle in each other’s lives.
This
promises
to be a memorable
season, worthy of
the oldest English
language theater in
Mexico. It’s not too
late to get your season ticket now!
Michael Warren

am a baby boomer, as are many
readers of the Ojo. We grew up in
simpler times, remember communism, the assassinations and Vietnam war
protests of the 1960’s, the Iran hostage
crisis, and the Reagan years in the 1980’s.
The events and trends of the last half of
the twentieth century have formed our
conception of the world. Many of us on
the left still hold FDR in high regard and
enjoy sitting down to read a paper newspaper whenever we can. Our Generation
X children are now in middle age and
producing grandchildren for us.
While we were not looking, the largest demographic group today, some 80
million in the US alone, have been sneaking up behind. These young people, the
Millennial Generation, born between
1980 and 1999, are now between the
ages of 15-34. As this large generation
comes into its own, wielding their power
in the marketplace and at the voting box,
the world is certain to change.
Here are a few facts gleaned from
the US Chamber of Commerce: Millennials are more optimistic than older adults
with 45% saying they are satisfied. They
are tolerant, with 45% suggesting that
preferential treatment should be given
to less fortunate people. They are comfortable with their gay and lesbian cohorts. They are comfortable with multitasking and technology. (New research
on neuroplasticity suggests that their
brains may actually be developing in significantly different ways which accommodate information differently.) Many
still rely on financial support from their
parents. Religion is less important to
them, while having a high-paying career
is more important.
So how will their emergence affect
public policy in the future? Thomas
Edsall wrote an op-ed for the New York
Times in which he examined the Millennials’ attitudes towards contemporary
concerns. While US Millennials tend to
vote heavily Democratic, there are some
significant differences with older Democratic voters.
Older liberal voters agreed (67%) that
hard work is no guarantee of success any
more. Eighty percent believe that “circumstances” are to blame for poverty.
In contrast, 77% of the Millennials believe that people who work hard
can get ahead. Only 47% believe that

%LOO)UD\HU
“circumstances” are the reason for poverty. Older Democrats (73%) believe that
government should and can do more to
solve society’s problems, while 50% of
the younger voters believe government
is trying to do too much. A 56% majority
believes “Wall Street helps the American
economy more than it hurts, in contrast
to just 36% of the older voters. In a nutshell, it seems as though young voters
tend to be quite liberal on social issues
like abortion, gay rights, and acceptance
of ethnic diversity, they are clearly more
conservative on economic issues. They
are in favor of helping those who need
help, but see the large, federal government-based programs, like the FDR’s
New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society, as no
longer effective.
It’s easy to understand, in a way.
While many of us Baby Boomers are
enjoying such benefits as fixed-benefit
pensions and affordable health care benefits, many younger voters are expecting
that these benefits will not be available
for them. They are worried about what
will happen to them over the next 60
years.
So, what are we to expect? Many
young people are looking at changing
paradigms. They favor decentralized
government which is responsive to local
needs. They have faith in entrepreneurial
enterprise to produce wealth and meet
their needs. They have faith in technology to produce lifestyle breakthroughs.
We may not all agree, but get ready.
They’ll be in charge soon enough!

Saw you in the Ojo 15

Dear Sir:
I’ve waited a few weeks after
the article in “Ojo del Lago” written
by Robert Nipper, to see what
impact it would have on people,
and, boy did it ever! Mr. Nipper
wrote, using the Preamble to the
Constitution, what it means to
be a Constitutional Conservative.
The first letter to the editor from a
Liberal responding was a personal
attack on Mr. Nipper. The writer
called him a “racist bigot,” an “ugly
American,” and told him he was
“not welcome in Mexico.” The
writer went on to blame Mr. Nipper
for, evidently, being responsible
for taking away America from the
Indians (Native Americans). He
then attacked the Constitution, not
with one shred of facts or statistics,
but a blanket statement about the
irrelevance of that document. The
letter proved two things: First, this
particular Liberal has an inability
to use facts, statistics and logic in
his response. Secondly, the best
he can do is “call names.” What was
blatantly clear was this writer’s
hatred of Americans, in general.
In his name calling…he can’t
even stick to the facts. Mr. Nipper
had the audacity to write, “It is
indicative of the American Dream,
that by our individual efforts we
may succeed.” Nowhere does Mr.

16

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Nipper exclude Blacks, Mexicans,
or any other race from that dream.
Yet, Mr. Nipper is a racist?
Mr. Nipper, like many other
Americans, does not appear to
have any problems with “legally”
immigrated people. America is
a melting pot and has always accepted that status. However, other
letters to the editor want to convolute Mr. Nipper’s statement, “nowhere is there a reference to, and/
or an inclusion of illegal aliens simply because they were somehow
able to make their way to the USA,
ignoring our immigration laws.”
What is baffling is some Liberals
view this statement as being racist…yet, summarily they follow the
immigration rules and regulations
of other countries. Do these immigration rules and regulations make
these countries “racist” in some Liberal’s logic or lack thereof?
In the last letter response, the
writer makes the accusation that
Mr. Nipper has broken Mexican
Law. How? This statement is
totally false, again, not one shred of
evidence, but a general statement
meant to potentially cause trouble
for Mr. Nipper. Mr. Nipper loves
Mexico and the lovely people here.
He intends on staying. He has no
problems living under the authority
of the Mexican government. Now,
more than ever, it is clear the “Ugly
American Moniker” hangs around
the necks of some Liberals.
For those of you that
respond to articles with which
you disagree, it would be really,
really, nice if you would remove
the “name calling” play from your
play book and please document
any general statement with “it’s my
opinion” or provide us with a shred
of evidence and/or fact to back up
your misinformed statements.
Don Daniel
“1960 JFK Democrat” Still
Co n s e r v a t i ve / I n d e p e n d e n t
Today

Saw you in the Ojo 17

THE JOY OF LANGUAGE
%\&DVVDQGUD7RUUHV

“

W

e are all born (I believe) with the resources to speak and
understand language. After that, we
are free to express however and whatever we want.” - Noam Chomsky.
For the past three weeks the Language Institute of the American School
of Guadalajara offered a summer program, Passport to Summer, in which
students reinforced their English skills.
As a Teacher Assistant, I was to supervise the younger kids and interacted
with them in my second language,
English. For most of the kids English
wasn’t their maternal language either.
At times I would ask them a question
and they would simply stare at me tilting their heads with curiosity, a gleam
in their eyes. It was at this moment that
I realized how that might have been
me a couple of years ago.
The best way to learn a language is
through exposure. As we visited Colomos Park, the kids were to complete a
scavenger hunt. As they were looking
around for rocks shaped like dinosaurs
and something smooth, a little Japanese boy from the class asked me what
a feather was. I described the texture
and shape, but he stood motionless.
I tried something different; I told him
where they came from, “Birds,” I said.
He responded, “Birds?” I pointed to the
sky but he said, “Rain?” so I figured out
the best way was to search for a feather
with him.
Once the feather was found, he
said, “Ahhh!” followed by the translation of it in Japanese. This was one of
my most determined and persistent

18

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

students. While engaged in an activity
identifying body parts, he asked me
what an elbow was. I pointed to my
elbow and asked him to repeat after
me. Then, he found the elbow on his
handout and copied letter by letter
the word from the word bank. At first I
didn’t think he would remember any of
the body parts, but later on during recess he fell down scratching his elbow
slightly. He came to me and told me,
“Elbow hurts.”
There were times when the teacher
went outside to prepare an activity,
and I was left in charge. It was then
that I felt how wonderful and strange
it was for me being the “profesora.” I
also discovered that the teaching was
mutual. The children reminded me
that I needed to forget myself once in a
while, and to be patient. I also learned
that language is not a barrier when
it comes to friendship. During recess
everyone would play together regardless of the language they spoke. They
would communicate with signs and
actions and the few English words that
they knew.
I realized what a blessing teachers
are. They are the ones who show us
the basics of life, such as the colors of
the rainbow, how to interact with others and the mysteries of mathematics.
They also introduce us to the kindness
of others outside the family. A wise
man once told me he hoped one day
I would be able to give back to others
the knowledge that had been passed
on to me. At the age of sixteen I believe
this has been my first step. At some
point in my life I would like to devote
my life to teaching in order to give
back what once was given to me.
(Ed. Note: Cassandra Torres is a junior at the American School of Guadalajara. She is currently in studying Advanced Placement composition and is
also a summer intern with Dr. Michael
Hogan.)

Saw you in the Ojo 19

(/&$'(-2
%\5REHUWR0RXOXQ

T

he villages followed one another like pretty sisters on
their way to school. We were
in the highlands, and the fields were
blond with wheat. Here and there, as if
they had been planted in error by Albino,
banana trees shivered. They looked like
they could use a drink.
As we drove on, we heard the most
beautiful sound a human can hear: the
sound of a river as it rolled over boulders
through the jungle. We breathed the aroma of jungle like the scent of a woman–
not intense, but announcing its presence,
brought even closer by the brief songs
of birds and fleeting drops of color from
butterflies.
Soon, the trees grew taller, and their
branches held orchids like giants bringing flowers to women they loved.

20

I saw, flying over the green canopy of
foliage, what seemed to be four gigantic birds with stretched wings, blue and
green, yellow and red, circling slowly, descending toward the ground looking for a
branch or a rock on which to alight.
We had entered the land of men who
fly like birds.
“It is the dance of el palo volador,”
Emilio explained, “worth seeing even if
we must deviate some from our route.”
We drove into the small town and left
the Rover on a cobbled side street, next
to a tiny store that reminded me of La
Rosita. I wondered what had finally happened to Cisca and the Nazareno. Then
I noticed the large bushy black dog that
had its red eyes fixed on me. Emilio had
walked away and was already far along
toward the plaza. A shiver that felt like

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

the blade of a cold knife pierced my loins.
I brought my hand to my throat where as
a child a medal had protected me, but my
neck was bare.
It is El Cadejo, I whispered to myself,
the infernal hound that haunted my
childhood. The dog sat as if waiting, his
red eyes still on me in recognition. Then,
slowly he got up and came to where I
stood frozen, sniffed my legs and lifted
his own to squirt his foul urine on me.
I felt humiliated. Then my anger again
turned to fear. My leg was dry, and, as the
dog walked away, it cast no shadow.
Emilio waited for me at the plaza. He
looked at me intently and shrugged his
shoulders. “Maybe thou should be happy,” he said. “Thou seemeth to be getting
quite a homecoming from all the devils of
the land.”
“Was it El Cadejo?” I asked.
“What else?” asked Uno. “What is unusual is that it came to you in daylight.”
I wished to talk more, to ask questions and understand better. But that
would have to wait. The spectacle before
me in the plaza was so fantastic that it
almost broke the boundary of reality. A
straight pole, which was higher than the
church’s steeple, had been planted in the
center of the plaza; a fragile platform at
the top held four ropes, and from them,
their feet held in loops, four men flew in a
wide circle as in a magic spiral. They were
dressed in feathers of brilliant colors, and
their arms moved like the wings of birds
as they slowly descended.
When they landed, each stood at a
point of the horizon, east and west, north
and south. The village elders dressed in
short black jackets and black trousers
reaching to their knees, held by a purple
sash and with their heads covered by the
ritual tsutes, approached them in respect
to offer aguardiente and kernels of roasted maize.
It had been a ritual dance, el palo
volador, the flying pole, or the “Dance of
the Monkeys.” The name was of no consequence; it was given only to describe the
performance.
“Not much of a name,” Uno said, “but
perhaps this is how it should be. One

could call them Hombres Pajaros, but that
would make it circus-like, like the Flying
Wallendas, the trapeze artists who would
get shot out from a cannon and land on a
net. This is totally different. This is an ancient ritual dance, perhaps from before
the times of the seventh Nahuatl tribe. I
don’t know its meaning, and the very few
who do know it won’t reveal it to me.”
“What do they fear?”
“Mysteries lose their power when
they are divulged.”
“But El Cadejo came to me in broad
daylight!”
“No one can predict what El Cadejo
does. He is a benign, infernal creature,
which seems a contradiction. But Lucifer
was an angel before he was thrown from
Heaven, and perhaps some of the good
qualities stuck to him. Don’t ask me difficult questions; theology was never my
forte. The fact is: El Cadejo often protects
drunks when they are lost at night or in
danger of attack by robbers. He often
came to play with you when you were a
child, and he seemed happy today when
he recognized you. Dogs, you know,
mark with their urine what they regard as
theirs.”
“But is it then a dog?”
“Only in appearance, and even then
he has the hooves of a goat.”
Emilio became all at once preoccupied and restless like a cat prescient of an
earthquake. He held my arm and walked
me back toward the car.
“We must get out of here and make
it straight to the border,” he said in an urgent tone.
I didn’t protest; I trusted Uno. I myself
sensed the town had become alien and
unfriendly as if it had caught a chill. Then,
like a hiccup, came the ugly sound of automatic gunfire in short blasts, and the
hurried anguish of villagers running for
cover.
Soldiers quickly closed off the streets.
They blocked the exits of the plaza and
surrounded the church and the school
building. The village people, in their colorful fiesta finery, milled into tightening
circles. I thought of the agony of dolphins
caught in a gill net.
The soldiers, indifferent to despair,
separated the young men from the old,
as if they were fish. It was the levy. The
army needed recruits to continue its fight
against the guerrillas.
Land Rovers always start when you
really need them. El Sargento Feliciano
Velada examined
our papers and
waved us away.
As we parted,
I gave him the finger. It wasn’t like
me to do that,
but he must have
thought it was a
good luck sign, like
Roberto Moulun
V for victory.

Saw you in the Ojo 21

IT’S THEIR FAULT!
%\*HQH5D\PHU

A

sk any American what’s
wrong with the US and
he or she will say, “It’s
their fault.” “They” are always the
other people. No one acknowledges
any personal responsibility.
Big business says government
regulations and employee demands
force them to send jobs overseas. Or
spending $200,000 for a machine to
replace a $50,000 per year employee
it will pay for itself. Machines don’t
call in sick, or get paid vacations or
go on strike. They work twenty four
hours a day without overtime or a
pension plan or health insurance.
Big business says they aren’t to
blame. Government regulations and
labor are to blame. “It’s their fault.”
The unemployed worker says he
needs that $50,000 a year to feed
his family. And those benefits are
necessary, too. No one works forever.
He needs a pension to continue
to live comfortably after 65. That
company CEO doesn’t really need
a seven figure salary and a “golden
parachute.” It’s not the common man
who caused the problems, it’s those
fat cats. “It’s their fault.”
Any respectable liberal will tell
you that it’s those rich conservatives
hoarding the wealth and preventing
the poor from earning a living. I still
don’t understand how liberals have
just as much money, but they’re not
hoarding. If those conservatives
would just pay a little more in taxes,
the impoverished could prosper.
And the economy would grow. “It’s
their fault.”
Conservatives will tell you that if
the liberals would quit giving away
our money, those free loaders would
take those $7.00 an hour jobs and
earn their own money. But if they
can make $250.00 a week doing
nothing, why work for $280.00 a
week? If those liberals would quit
giving away our money, people
would go back to work. “It’s their
fault.”
Many born in the US say our
problems are caused by immigrants.

22

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

They forget that a generation or
two earlier, their ancestors were
immigrants. Since 9-11, every bad
thing that has happened here has
been blamed on Muslims. Yes, those
were Muslim extremists on 9-11.
But were those boys at Columbine
or Sandy Hook Muslims, too? Was
Senator McCarthy wrong? Should
he have been going after Muslims in
the 50‘s? “It’s their fault.”
And Latinos are crossing the
border. They’re working for $5.00
an hour and taking jobs from
Americans who would do the same
thing for $10.00 an hour. If they
would go back where they came
from, agricultural prices would
double and every one would be rich.
They are also putting a strain on our
health care system. Perhaps the next
time I’m at Seguro Popular getting
my free blood pressure medicine, I
should tell them “It’s their fault.”
I always fancied myself a
Republican.
Perhaps
because
someone gave me an “I Like Ike”
button when I was nine. I wasn’t a
big fan of JFK but I did like what he
said in his inaugural address, “Ask not
what your country can do for you, ask
what you can do for your country.”
Not many folks are doing that today.
Most have turned it around. Maybe
greed and its associated evils are the
real problem.
If more political experts asked,
“What can I do better?” rather than
waxing rhetorically about what
those others are doing wrong, we
would have a better nation. As
long as extremists, left or right,
emphasize “I’m right, you’re wrong.”
there will be no harmony in the US.
The USA will become the DSA —the
Dysfunctional States of America.
And when we do, “It’s their fault!”
(Ed. Note: Mr. Raymer earned
a Bachelor of Divinity from
Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary in 1969. He has been
associated with the Little Chapel on
the Highway for the past few years.)

By Mark Sconce
msconce@gmail.com
A taxi drops off a passenger at the Ajijic cemetery—El Panteón
Diego couldn’t join them yesterday;
The plane he’d booked to bring him here
Had suffered a prolonged delay,
A ghost within the landing gear.
Diego’s family missed their eldest son,
And wondered why it was he hadn’t come.
It’s early morning now in Ajijic,
A drizzling rain has turned it cold and bleak.
The Old Gray Lady blows her chilly kiss
To every stone in this necropolis.
Then comes the trumpet of a burro’s bray,
The shudders of a horse’s neigh.
A dog slinks by—a glance of timid fear—
Some ravens jockey for the crumbs
Amid the litter of another year,
Among the petals of the floral wreaths,
Among the mass of golden marigolds.
Balloons and banners, Catholic manners;

24

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Votive candles for atonement,
Katrinas mocking Death’s enthronement.
Hand-cut from colored tissue—flags
Festoon the air in joyous swags;
And sugar skulls with haunting faces,
Sleek skeletons on hallowed places.
Diego passes gravely through the arch,
A dampness on his jet-lagged face;
A heavy burden weighs upon his heart.
As he steps down to enter holy space,
He feels a trembling touch across his face,
A spider’s web in dawn’s dim light
Has given him a moment’s fright.
He hurries down the stony path
To reach his family’s graves at last,
To see once more their final site,
Still hazy now in morning’s light.
At first he contemplates a single tomb,
The one where Anna Rosa sleeps, his bride,
And with her there--the boy within her womb.
And he recalls the midwife’s cries
That bitter, dread-filled night last year,
That night when all the family agonized,
When all were gripped with sudden fear.
His five-year old, Elizabeth,
Collapsed in grief--and lost her bloom;
Part orphan with her mother’s death,
She felt the early touch of doom.
Her papa’s madre took her in,
Since he went north for work again…
A sudden splash of tears on cobblestone.
Diego felt so utterly alone.
A morning shaft of light illuminates
A photo of her young and smiling face,
Her glossy black and plaited hair
That prompted even girls to stare.
That wondrous smile to tantalize,
Those Aztec cheekbones, Spanish eyes!
Fate gave, then took away the sweetest kisses,
And kisses for a son unborn.
No more to know those family blisses,
But time enough and more to mourn.
From Spanish eyes he tore away his gaze
And saw an image in the morning rays:
Madonna and her infant child! . . .
Oh God, he cried, then turned and fled
And stumbled down the stony way.
He finally slowed his pace and wept—
Past row on row of brightening tombs
Inscribed to those who slept . . . and slept.
The clouds had scattered here and there
Among the tombs in disrepair.
The sun now lit Diego’s way;
He staggered on in disbelief
Then finally bent his knees to pray.
El Panteón abounds with trees,
Planted there to soothe the grieving,
Planted just perhaps to please.
Diego drank the morning air,
The breath of life—a gentle breeze,
The unheard thoughts between two trees.
“A spreading oak looms high above the graves,
And, rustling, stirs. . .”

Saw you in the Ojo 25

Hearts at Work
$&ROXPQE\-DPHV7LSWRQ
5HUXQE\5HTXHVW

“A Test”

I

n 1964 I was living in San
Francisco, in a boarding
house on California Street,
two blocks up from Chinatown,
where I paid ninety dollars a month
for room and board. I spent most
evenings at the famous City Lights
bookstore, where I pored over books
and looked for beautiful young women who liked poetry and Buddhism
and coffee shops.
Late one winter afternoon I heard
that Maxwell Maltz would be delivering a lecture that very evening. I had
read his recent book Psycho-Cybernetics, which popularized “success conditioning,” a method of self-improvement based on “reprogramming” the
subconscious, changing the “internalized” words and sentences. The sponsors had scheduled the lecture in a
building in a fading neighborhood
whose streets were filled with homeless people.
As I entered the lobby with its
worn tiles and dim lighting, I saw a
man, apparently very drunk, lying on
the floor in a pool of his own urine. His
arm stuck out at a strange angle, as
though broken, and he was obviously in pain. Part of me wanted to help
him, but another part of me wanted to
appear cool and groovy to the comely
young women who were there to attend the lecture on personal growth.
Along with the rest, I walked around
him and began to climb the stairs to
the lecture room above.
But at the top I turned and looked
back. I watched a woman, of middle
age, bejeweled and wearing a luxurious fur coat, enter the lobby, obviously there to attend the lecture. Without
hesitation, she walked right over to
the moaning man, knelt down beside
him, touched him, tried to comfort
him, and determined that his arm was,
indeed, broken. I could hear him beg
her not to call the police. She promised she would not. Then she asked
someone to step outside to the pay
phone to call a social agency she was
somehow already familiar with.
The rest of us stood on the stair
watching, almost transfixed, and
knowing that we had passed him by.

26

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Given a choice between getting a
good seat to learn more about “personal growth” or helping a suffering
human being, that wealthy woman in
her jewels and furs—whom some had
mocked as she entered—was the only
one among us who “passed the test.”
That incident affected me a lot.
A couple of years later when tens of
thousands of Hippies invaded the
lovely old city, stripping the city parks
of flowers to pass out to tourists on
the cable cars, and “borrowing” books
from my beloved City Lights bookstore, and shouting crude curses to
the young soldiers who were shortly
to be serving their country in Vietnam, “called to duty” whether that war
was legitimate or not—I remembered
that woman who was so beautifully
dressed in a city that had until recently prided itself on elegance and who
was herself “called to duty” that cool
January night when she walked in and
saw a man who was crying, lying in his
own urine, his arm broken—a man
whom the rest of us had passed by.
I paid little attention to the lecture.
Because of that woman I was thinking
about my life. She never got to hear
about Psycho-Cybernetics at all because she waited below with that suffering man until help arrived.
I thought of her today while I was
looking at a little card I bought years
ago from the Tools for Change catalog and which I have kept on a shelf
of treasured things. It
says:
“Always hold firmly
to the thought that
each one of us can do
something to bring
some portion of misery
to an end.”
Jim Tipton

WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESID
DENT
OF TH
HE USA
A?
%\$Q$QRQ\PRXV&RQWULEXWRU

T

hink back to your history
books. The United States
declared its independence
in 1776, yet George Washington did
not take Office until April 30, 1789. So
who was running the country during
these initial years of our young country? It was the first eight U. S. Presidents. In fact, the first President of the
United States was one John Hanson.
I can hear you now - John who? John
Hanson, was the first President of the
United States. (Check Google for more
detailed information. There was also a
U.S. stamp made in his honor.)
The new country was actually
formed on March 1, 1781 with
the adoption of The Articles of
Confederation. This document was
actually proposed on June 11, 1776,
but not agreed upon by Congress until
November 15, 1777. Maryland refused

-RKQ+DQVRQ
-RKQ
+DQVRQ
to sign this document until Virginia
and New York ceded their western
lands (Maryland was afraid that these
states would gain too much power in
the new government from such large
amounts of land).
Once the signing took place in
1781, a President was needed to run
the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which

included George Washington). In fact,
all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was
a major player in the revolution and
an extremely influential member of
Congress. As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one
had ever been President and the role
was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future
Presidents. He took office just as the
Revolutionary War ended.
Almost immediately, the troops
demanded to be paid. As would be
expected after any long war, there
were no funds to meet the salaries.
As a result, the soldiers threatened to
overthrow the new government and
put Washington on the throne as a
monarch. All the members of Congress
ran for their lives, leaving Hanson
as the only guy left running the
government. He somehow managed
to calm the troops down and hold the
country together. If he had failed, the
government would have fallen almost
immediately and everyone would
have been bowing to King Washington.
Hanson, as President, ordered all
foreign troops off American soil, as well
as the removal of all foreign flags. This
was quite the feat, considering the fact
that so many European countries had
a stake in the United States since the

days following Columbus. Hanson established the Great Seal of the United
States, which all Presidents have since
been required to use on all official documents. President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department,
the first Secretary of War, and the first
Foreign Affairs Department. Lastly, he
declared that the fourth Thursday of
every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.
So what happened? Why don’t we
hear about the first eight presidents?
It’s quite simple: The Articles of
Confederation didn’t work well.
The individual states had too much
power and nothing could be agreed
upon. A new doctrine needed to be
written—something we know as the
Constitution. And that leads us to the
end of our story.
George Washington definitely was
not the first President of the United
States. He was the first President of the
United States under the Constitution
we follow today—and the first eight
Presidents have been forgotten in
history.
(Ed. Note: For those interested in
trivia contests, the above information
seems an excellent way to win a bet.
Asked the same question, I would have
certainly given the “obvious” answer:
George Washington, of course!)

Saw you in the Ojo 27

%\9LFWRULD6FKPLGW

Sounds of Mexico

Y

ou’ll never have to be alone
in Mexico. Especially when
you live in a village. All I
have to do is step outside my door, and
I see my neighbors walking down the
street, and I hear their greeting “Buenos
Dias, Como estas?, “Hola vecino!”
The morning starts quiet, but
around 7:00 a.m. the birds are telling us
the sun is rising, the buses rumble down
the rock road. Soon, the garbage truck
makes it way past our door, and we hear
the sounds of the workers signaling
each other as they toss garbage bags
into the truck, and their laughter when
they find something that amuses them.
So the traffic picks up, more cars go
up our street, more people walk down
our sidewalk. The dogs across the street
bark at our dogs when the dog walker
arrives.

28

Soon water trucks drive by, their
drivers yelling “agua!’ Gas trucks soon
pass by with their particular brand
of gas playing their individual songs
through their speakers.
The knife sharpener plays his flute,
the ice cream seller rings a bell reminiscent of my bicycle bell when I was a
child. Up the street, roosters crow. The
hen’s eggs are sold at the corner abarrotes. I can hear the clip, clop of a horse’s
hooves as they walk the rock road.
Horns beep warning people to move
their car along, or extending a greeting.
The junk truck drives by broadcasting
the type of junk he will take.
Fresh fruit arrives on the bed of a
pick-up with a speaker mounted atop
the battered truck. “Fresas!” Later another truck, this time shouting “Queso!”
cheese, just outside my front door. If

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

walking, be prepared for rooftop dogs
to look down and bark. The big dogs
seem fierce, the Chihuahua’s –only think
they’re tough!
As afternoon begins, our neighbor across the street gives us a concert
of tunes, while our neighbor in back
practices or gives music lessons. Down
the street I can hear the children at the
school singing, and playing with squeals
of delight as they play at recess. The timbre on the door rings as people try to sell
fruit, or sometime they just ask for aid.
While our local church bells chime the
time, and announces the times of service. Young people drive by in their car
and their speakers, which are almost the
same size of their car, are booming their
tunes so loud that my own bones seem
to shake. As the day becomes evening
I watch the mariachi y bandas migrate
toward the pier to entertain the diners.
On weekends, our neighborhood is
filled with residents and visiting tapatios that the locals call the “Guad Squad.”
Bus, after bus, carries people to the
pier or the park. The Malecon and the
pier become a carnival of vendors, and
clowns, music, balloons, and cotton
candy.
The night arrives, and a festival is
in the village. Music blares from the
sound system, and announcers’ voices
cut through the night air while cohetes

shoot fireworks to color the night sky.
Chapala’s Patron Saint is St. Francis of
Assissi, the Patron Saint of Animals. For
nine days in the spring, cohetes go off
at 6:00 a.m. noon, 6:00 p.m. and 11:00,
sending my frightened dogs hiding four
times a day. Mexico is filled with sound,
it is the voice of the
village, the chorus of
the culture, the heartbeat of the people.
If one finds oneself
lonely in Mexico, they
need only stop, look
and listen. They will
be lonely no more.
Victoria Schmidt

WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME, MR. CAMUS?
%\/L]/DUUDEHH

M

adness would have mercifully ended the reign
of my martyr motherhood had it not been for my irrepressible flights, undone at dawn.
Our adjoined garret rooms above a
rowdy cabaret on the Left Bank, my ancient Smith Corona clacks in duet with
Hemingway’s. Fitzgerald’s divine aura
in smoking silhouette against a street
lamp in the alley fades into a dim shadow as I struggle against the bed sheet
that has fallen half way to the floor.
I cling tight to illusion long enough
to find myself humming Lili Marlene
into the chilly evening, my longblocked novel about to burst with
overwhelming inspiration. The Stranger’s footsteps closing in, I’m about to
succumb to my pounding desire when
the damn dawn bursts between the
slats of the window blinds and shatters
the best part. I squint against the sunlight for a few seconds, and then I
stretch and yawn as if to stave off the

weariness of another wide awake day
in the summer of ‘72.
Hemingway, tired of living, has
pulled the shotgun’s trigger. F. Scott
has drowned in mint juleps. My
Stranger has crashed an eternity too
soon. What is left now but to wait for
my gritty remains to find their way to
his stardust and settle my claim?

Saw you in the Ojo 29

THE CONSERVATIVE CORNER
%\5REHUW/1LSSHU
“Dr. Savage was right!”

M

ichael Savage, a noted Conservative author and Radio Talk
show host, wrote the controversial book, “Liberalism is a Mental
Disorder” a few years back. The
Libs went crazy and attacked Dr.
Savage relentlessly. They called for
him to be fired from his syndicated radio show and demanded his
books be pulled from the shelves
of Barnes and Nobel, Walden’s, and
other book stores. I’m sure that if
they could have found the location
of his residency in San Francisco
some screaming Liberal would
have attempted to do him in.
An analysis of Liberal mindless
tendencies shows more than just a
degree of insanity, however. Liberals swoon around the likes of Fidel
Castro. In fact, the U.S. sanctions
placed against Cuba during the
missile crisis are an outrage to most

30

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Libs today. Our Pseudo-President
glorifies Castro, and has on several
occasions. But, Cubans that were
lucky enough to escape Castro’s
reign of terror will tell you he was
a cut-throat murderer. He didn’t
like what journalists were writing about him, so he lined them
up and executed them. Does that
sound like someone who should
be idolized as a hero? Not by sane
people.

Look at how rigorously the Left
supports and defends Roe v. Wade.
They postulate how great Planned
Parenthood is, (A misnomer of a
name if there ever has been one),
for having murdered 45,000,000+
unborn babies since 1973. And,
that number is vastly proportionate to racial profiling. i.e. in New
York State 6 out of 9 abortions
are Black fetuses. And, Margaret
Sanger, a known racist/ hater of
Blacks, was the founder of that despicable organization. Again, does
that sound sane to support an organized genocide? PP claims to be
protecting the woman’s rights, yet
when we suggest someone should
be speaking out for the rights of
the unborn that have no voice...we
hear Liberal shrieks from the rafters. Sane? I think not.
Murderers on death row are
made into folk heroes by the Libs.
Instead of focusing on the victims,
like the many women or children
raped and/or murdered by these
convicts, they focus on the “civil
rights” of the murderer. Rolling
Stone Magazine put the Boston
Bomber on the cover, making him
look like a rock star rather than the
murderer he was. Does that sound
sane?
I’ll never forget the television interview with the young adult that
referred to himself as “an anarchist”.
He was spiking trees in the Willamette Forest with ceramic spikes
to kill or maim loggers falling trees.
He was interviewed by a local news
outlet, where he was quoted saying, “The life of a pine tree is worth
more than that of a man.” That is
true insanity. And, I’ll never forget
the PETA lady protesting outside
a chicken rendering plant holding
a sign that said, “Chickens have
souls!” Another with her held a sign
that said, “Chickens feel pain!”
The Liberal mindset that claims
to be compassionate and accepting is far from either adjective.
Take, for example, the Liberal public school teacher in Wisconsin calling in death threats to Governor
Scott Walker’s office. Liberals have
”feel good” terms for them like:
compassionate, diverse, accepting,
and enlightened. They wear them
around their brows like monikers.
But, when the smokescreen is lifted they are exactly the opposite;
ruthless, immoral, and often times,
brain-dead. Now, those are adjectives that call a spade a spade. It is
said, “Know a man, not by his rhetoric, but by his actions.”
Michael Savage was right! Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Saw you in the Ojo 31

Sandy Olson

Phone: 331-283-8529
Email: sandyzihua@hotmail.com

PAST EVENTS
IT ISNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE
The Lakeside Little Theatre told us
DOODERXWLWLQWKHLUÂżUVWRIIHULQJRIWKHIDOO
season, The Last Romance, directed by
$QQ6ZLVWRQ.
620$1<.,'6ÂŤ
It made for a lively week at the Lake
&KDSDOD 6RFLHW\ when the Second
Annual Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Camp was in
full session. There were about 120 kids

from ages three to eighteen doing
jewelry, clay, watercolor and paper
machĂŠ, with teaching and assistance
by a team of ASA members and
enthusiastic volunteers.
The local artists who donated their
time were-RH6PLWK/RLV6FKURII
$QWRQLR /RSH] 9HJD 'HHQD
+DINHU %REE\ /DQFDVWHU %DUEDUD
3DVVDUHOOD)OR5KRGHV'DQ:KLWH
/LEE\6KLSPDQand$QLWD/HH
Each day ended with a snack for
the kids and a party on Friday. The
week ended on Saturday with a sale
of many original artworks that the kids
create during the week. The children
received 50% from pieces they sold.

COMING EVENTS

-$==,1$-,-,&
Jazz lovers can enjoy a series of
performances in September at several venues
that are not asking for a cover charge.
September 6 at 7:30 Juan CastaĂąon is the
VRORMD]]JXLWDUDUWLVWDW/D5XHGD&DIp3RULÂżULR
Diaz #120 in San Juan CosalĂĄ
September 12 at 10 Blue Velvet Jazz Trio
plays â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tha Funkâ&#x20AC;? at La Sangrita Bar
Morelos #12, Ajijic
September 13 at 7:30 Blue Velvet Jazz TrĂ­o
plays â&#x20AC;&#x153;standardsâ&#x20AC;? at Lago CafĂŠ, Carretera PoniJazz Guitarist Juan CastaĂąon
ente #29, Ajijic
September 20 at 7.30 Juan CastaĂąĂłn at Jardin de Ninette Restaurant, Javier Mina #7,
Ajijic
September 27 at 7 Juan CastaĂąĂłn at Te Para Dos, Tea Room, Encarnacion Rosas
#282, Ajijic
BARKERITAVILLE
/DNHVLGH6SD\ 1HXWHU is presenting â&#x20AC;&#x153;Barkeritavilleâ&#x20AC;? on September 10 at 5 pm. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a
Sommerfest featuring Gudren Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; famous bratwurst, German potato salad and homemade pickles. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a cash
bar (including â&#x20AC;&#x153;barkeritasâ&#x20AC;?), music and dancing to Sol y Luna
and a chance to have fun for
a good cause. Tickets are 200
pesos at Diane Pearlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Handy
Mail, PetCare, Bagel Shop,
Zaina Boutique and the Ranch
table on Friday mornings in
front of Actinver.
NAKED STAGE
The September show at
From left to right: Peter Luciano, Barbara
Pruitt, Sharon Lowry, Joan Lowy Warren, Mi- Naked Stage show is a comedy, The Supporting Cast, di-

chael Warren. (Not pictured: Judy Long)

32

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

rected by Collette Clavadetscher Ellen, the wife of a successful author, has written a book
about friends who are spouses of celebrities and what it is like to be married to Somebody
Famous. The play runs September 26, 27, 28.
Naked Stage is located at #10A Rio Bravo. Directions: west on the carretera from Ajijic,
south on Rio Bravo, about two blocks down behind Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant on the east side.
'DQLHOÂśVLVRSHQIRUOXQFKDQGGLQQHUZLWKDQRKRVWEDUDYDLODEOHDWSP7KHER[RIÂżFH
opens at 3:15 and the show starts at 4:00 p.m.
The email address for reservations: nakedstagereservations@gmail.com. Reservations
guarantee a seat until 3:50, after which seats will be sold to those waiting without reservations.
A RETREAT AND YOU DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HAVE TO
/($9(72:1
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Embrace Your Basic Goodness,â&#x20AC;? a live
stream retreat from the Omega Institute in
New York, features Pema Chodron, a notable
$PHULFDQÂżJXUHLQ7LEHWDQ%XGGKLVP7KHSUHsentation will take place in Ajijic from Friday,
September 26 to Sunday, September 28.
A spokesman says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;During this retreat, we
explore practices that can help us contact our
fundamental goodness even when we are under stress, overwhelmed, and overburdened.â&#x20AC;?
Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note 6SHDNLQJ RI VWUHVV RXU SDUDGLVH KDV LWV VKDUH RI VQRZELUG WUDIÂżF WKH
relaxed Mexican maĂąana, and other issues we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell our friends about when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bragging about Lakeside living. Maybe we can get onto something here!
The +HDUWRI$ZDUHQHVV%XGGKLVW&RPPXQLW\ is sponsoring the event, to be held at
EncarnaciĂłn Rosas #11 in Ajijic. There is a registration fee of 250 pesos, which includes all
sessions and a continental breakfast on Sunday. Payment must be received by Sept. 24 to
hold your place.
To register, contact Patricia at pemaretreat2014@gmail.com. A limited number of full/
partial scholarships are available. Ask Patricia.
IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING
SAVAGE?
7KHÂżUVWSOD\RIWKHUHJXODULakeside
Little Theatre season, God of Carnage,
opens on October 3 and runs through
October12. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directed by Roseann
:LOVKHUH and Arleen Pace as assistant
director. This play is a savage comedy
about two pairs of parents who meet in
a civilized manner to discuss an argument between their kids. Wait and see
what happens! The four-person cast
includes Collette Clavadetscher, Ken
<DNLZFKXN 'RXJODV 3LQNHUWRQ and
.DWKOHHQ0RUULV
//7ÂśV ER[ RIÂżFH RSHQV IURP WLOO
12 noon on Wednesday, October 1 and
From bottom to top: Ken Yakiwchuk, Thursday, October 2 and then through
Collette Clavadetscher, Douglas
the run of the play (except Sundays). On
Pinkerton, and Kathleen Morris and a VKRZGD\VWKHER[RIÂżFHLVDOVRRSHQIRU
reminder that this is LLTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th season. one hour before curtain time. Note that
WKHÂżUVW6DWXUGD\LVQRZDSPPDWLQHH
and as before both Sunday shows are matinees. There is no performance on Monday, October 6. Tickets are 225 pesos, or you can buy a season ticket for 1100 pesos for the entire
six-play season.
MUSIC HATH CHARMS
We heard from -RKQ.HHOLQJ9LYD0XVLFD3UHVLGHQW, about exciting musical offerings
from now to the end of the year.
7KXUVGD\2FWREHU at 7.00 p.m. Violin and piano recital featuring Robert Markus,
violin, and Rosa Maria Valdez, piano, playing works by Brahms, Moncayo, Carrasco, de
Falla and Bartok.
7KXUVGD\1RYHPEHU at 7.00 p.m. The Revueltas String Quartet with Diego Rojas
and Cesar Huizar, violins, Manuel Olivares, viola, and Yalissa Cruz, cello. Program includes
Rudo by Domingo Lobato, Five Novelettes by Glazunov and American Quartet by Dvorak.
7KXUVGD\'HFHPEHU, at 7.00 p.m. Christmas Concert with the Hermosillo family
singers and their friends Hector Lopez and Paty Hernandez , back by popular demand.
These concerts will be in the Auditorium at 4.00 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and will
be on sale at the Auditorium, Diane Pearl Colecciones, and LCS ticket booth Thursdays &
Fridays 10-12.
PRACTICE THOSE PUTTS
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to dust off the clubs and start practicing your putting! The XIth Annual &UX]
5RMD&KDOOHQJH will be here before you know it with the opportunity to sink a hole in one for
a car or a golf cart. There are lots of other prizes to reward a golferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prowess, and drawings
and door prizes for â&#x20AC;&#x153;duffers and diners onlyâ&#x20AC;?

Saw you in the Ojo 33

Join your friends at the Golf and Country
Club de Chapala, Vista de Lago and support
this essential community service on October
30 at 9 am. Player tickets are available through
the Pro Shop at the club (1200 pesos includes
meals, game, and cart) Bar-B-Que dinner only
tickets at 250 pesos are available at the club
and at the LCS Red Cross Table.
For more information on how you can participate as a player, diner or support the event
as a sponsor, call 766-4990 or 766-4443.

9$66$5:2:
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our6RÂżD%HQLWH] left recently to attend
Vassar College on a four-year scholarship.
6RÂżDZURWHWKHKLVWRU\RIWKH$PHULFDQ6FKRRO
of Guadalajara (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scholastic Pearl of the Westâ&#x20AC;?)
which appeared in the August 2013 issue of
Ojo del Lago. This past year she also received
the Silver Medal for Writing from Scholastic
Magazine in New York and she wrote a weekly
column for the Guadalajara newspaper
Milenio.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is one of a handful of talented
students whom Hogan has recommended to
this editor over the years and whom we have
SXEOLVKHGLQRXUSDJHV%HVWRIOXFNWR6RÂżD
Benitez at Vassar College, our ambassador
from Jalisco and a forever friend of Ojo del
Lago. We wish you the best!â&#x20AC;?
From $OHMDQGUR*UDWWDQ(GLWRULQ&KLHI

ONGOING EVENTS
A MILLION LAUGHS
/DXJKWHU <RJD ZLWK *LWD meets every
Wednesday, from 4:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5:15 at 16 de
septiembre, #30, one block east of LCS. It
is free and open to the public. Donations are
accepted. Contact Gita 376-766-5879, 333846-4265, or email gitajill@gmail.com.
Gita Fendelman LV D &HUWLÂżHG /DXJKWHU
Yoga Teacher and Leader, and a KripaluFHUWLÂżHG\RJDWHDFKHUZLWKRYHUWKLUW\\HDUVRI
experience. Laughter Yoga uses the cutting
edge modality of laughter as an innovative
stress and health management tool. You can
call her at 376-766-5879, 333-846-4265 or email her at gitajill@gmail.com.
35(77<0$,'6$//,1$52:
The Lakeside
Garden Club has
been around since
the 1970s and is
â&#x20AC;&#x153;the best deal in
town,â&#x20AC;? according to
Vice President SanG\)HOGPDQ. For an
individual fee of 100
pesos and 150 per
From left to right: President, Annie Green; Vice Presicouple,
members
can enjoy monthly dent, Sandy Feldmann; Past President, Tracy Rueter; Secmeetings, discounts retary and Web Master, Nancy Segall; Treasurer, Karen
at local viveros, and
access to local gar- 5RZHOO5DIĂ&#x20AC;H/HVOLH$UFKHU%DFN5RZ6SHDNHUVDQG
Tours, Patty Gates. Missing are: Membership, Judie
dens.
.HFNDQG0HPEHUDW/DUJH/LQGD)ULHGPDQ
Currently,
the
Garden Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects are the redoing of the garden at Casa Ancianos in Chapala by -HVXV*RGR\ Angel of
0DJQLÂżFHQW*DUGHQVFDSHVDQGGRQDWLQJWR3URMHFW6HHGLQ6DQ-XDQ&RVDOD&KHFNRXW
their website at www.lakechapalagardenclub.org.
IN PERFECT UNISON, ALMOST
Tai chi with$OLFHDQG5DQG\7XPEOLQmeets MWF at 9, weather permitting, and it usuDOO\GRHV7KLVJURXSKDVEHHQJRLQJVWURQJIRUDERXWÂżIWHHQ\HDUV$OLFHLVWKHWKLUGWDLFKL
teacher. She took over the class in 2009 from the late Dona Dean.
Experience isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessary. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it goes: the newcomer show up, follows the
others and soon gets over that feeling of not-knowing, or at least gets used to it. It all works
out. Newcomers are welcome at any time; this is a friendly bunch. For information, call Alice

34

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

or Randy at 766or email them at
randy.and.alice@
gmail.com.
WIPE
OUT
GRAFFITI
Volunteers
in
Ajijic
work
tirelessly to keep
the
Lakeside
beautiful and free
from
unsightly Left front: Eileen Bednarz, Wendy Hamblin, Instructor
JUDIÂżWL :LSH 2XW Alice Tumblin, and Saul Lule. Rear: Randy Tumblin, Car*UDIÂżWL has been ol Dickinson, Michael Hall, Derek Firth, and John Wells.
very successful,
because of these
workers, the support of the Lakeside Garden Guild, and the Chapala Association of
Realtors, which continues to encourage the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts through its funding.
If you see someone marring a building or surface, call the police (but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t announce this
to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;artist at work!â&#x20AC;?).
Also, if you would like
to help volunteer or
donate funds, email:
letswipeoutgraffiti@
yahoo.com
AGE THIRTEEN
TO INFINITY
Los Cantantes
del Lago is revving
up preparations for
its holiday concert
December 9 and
2WKHU:LSH2XW*UDIÂżWLYROXQWHHUV
10 and is looking for
new singers. Publicity
person -D\PH /LWWOHMRKQ VD\V Âł)UHVK YRLFHV IURP DJH WKLUWHHQ WR LQÂżQLW\ DUH DOZD\V
welcome.â&#x20AC;? Rehearsals start in October and run twice a week until the concert dates. Music
runs from classical to secular to Christmas to Hanukkah. For information contact Music
Director7LP:HOFK at loscantantesdellago@gmail.com
6,;7<*5((17+80%6ÂŤ
â&#x20AC;Śshow up at -RKQ 0F:LOOLDPVÂś veggie club every month.
The $MLMLF 2UJDQLF
9HJHWDEOH *URZHUV was started six months ago and has now grown to sixty members.
The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 at Azul Frida Restaurant,
Carretera #61 in West Ajijic. The next meeting will be on September 10. New members are
welcome. They can contact John at mcwilliamsmx@gmail.com or by phone at 376-7660620.
648($.<:+((/5($',1*6
La Rueda (The Wheel), a coffee gallery in San Juan Cosala, stages monthly readings in
(QJOLVK7KH\DUHKHOGRQWKHÂżUVW:HGQHVGD\RIHDFKPRQWKDW
Readers in September were 3DWULFLD (\UH 0LFKDHO :DUUHQ 0DUJDUHW 9DQ (YHU\
6DQGL*HOOHV&ROH.HQQHWK6HO]PDQQand%RE'U\QDQ
Directions to La Rueda: at the only stop light in San Juan Cosala, turn towards the
ODNH*RRQHEORFNDQGWXUQULJKWDWWKHSOD]DRQ3RUÂżULR'LD]
'ULYHWZREORFNVRUVRSDVW
Viva Mexico restaurant on the right.
Writers who want to read, or those needing further information, can contact Judy at 387761-0281 or email her at jubob2@hotmail.com.
AMERICAN LEGION IN CHAPALA
Saturdays:
3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Fish Fry
Sundays:
Burgers & Dogs 12 - 3 p.m.
LAKE
CHAPALA
COUNTRY
CLUB
For an interesting evening, attend
a talk given by 2MR GHO /DJR (GLWRU
$OHMDQGUR *UDWWDQ who was invited
to speak on September 12 about
the history of Mexican migrations to
the US. Grattan is the author of an
historical novel, The Dark Side of
the Dream, which has been very well
received by the reading public. The talk
begins at 7 and is followed by a dinner.
For information, contact Fran Reidelber
at franandbrooke@gmail.com.

Saw you in the Ojo 35

E\/XFLDQD0HQGH]

A

modern blue and white
façade catches the eye
of the visitor, as she enters the theatre minutes before the
show begins. She walks to a domed
pavilion which is also the signature
image of the theatre, along with hundreds of excited patrons of different
ages, and backgrounds. Once inside,
an impressive chandelier lights the
stairs and below is the welcoming
lobby, covered in cream-colored marble with two concessions filled with
refreshments. Along the wall there
are snug couches to sip one’s beverage while awaiting the opening or relaxing during the intermission.
The Teatro Galerías, located in

36

Guadalajara, has hosted sixty percent of all cultural events fostered by
the city since 1991. This August, the
Theatre celebrated its twenty-third
anniversary of entertaining people
in Guadalajara and around the world
with a range of quality and diverse
plays such as Peter Pan, The Woman
in Black, La Senora Presidenta and Las
Obras Completas de William Shakespeare. This latter play was a big hit
with Shakespeare fans and local
teachers. It featured Diego Luna and
other notable Mexican actors doing
short scenes from some of the more
famous Shakespeare plays such as
Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
Avenida Lapizlazuli, the locale

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

of this theatre, used to be a compact mall called “Plaza Bonaventura”,
which hosted four movie complexes
called “Salas Lumiere.” The owner was
Mr. Arturo Méndez Valencia, who envisioned a theatre which would have
a diverse set of shows that would
satisfy a more sophisticated tapatío
audience. Construction began two
years before its opening night, and
during that time there was a myriad
of hardships, most notably the fact
that the tower was built higher and
narrower than expected, leaving no
room for the elegant and intimate
dressing rooms Mr. Méndez had in
mind.
However, the play Out of Order by
Ray Cooney opened to the public that
August to rave reviews. Even though
it was a pleasant theatre, it still had
many details that were not up to the
standard of elegance that Mr. Méndez had in mind. So, a month after
the release of Out of Order the whole
bottom section was remodeled in
order to enhance aesthetics and audience comfort. Changes included
an improvement to the isoptics and
acoustics, reduction of the number
of seats, and more comfortable stairs.
For the convenience of patrons, Mr.
Méndez also added a parking lot.
Today, it can seat over one thou-

sand eight hundred people and has
comfortable dressing rooms that will
satisfy the most self-indulgent diva.
In addition, there are three parking lots for patrons. For the twentythree years it has entertained the
tapatío audience, its motto has never
changed: the audience is always right.
Mr. Mendez´s words still resonate in
each employee’s mind while hosting:
“It´s not a crammed theatre, the people are first for us, the people dictate.”
In other words, if the theatre sells out,
that’s it. There is no standing audience or doubling up. The audience
comfort and satisfaction is primary.
One example of how this works
was the concert of the well-known
Guatemalan singer Ricardo Arjona.
Struck by both the intimacy of the
audience singer arrangement and
the warmth of the audience, he said:
“Teatro Galerias was my most personal experience with an audience--ever”
But all is not sweetness and light.
Sometimes the stage is raucous with
the beat of a different drummer as
when “Stomp” hit Guadalajara. Matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo
lighters and more filled the stage
with energizing beats of this British
group, for an inventive and invigorating stage show that was dance, music
and theatrical performance blended
together. For the more conservative
patron there are many classical concerts, ballet performances and even
opera. There are also English and bilingual performances. Teatro Galerias
has it all.
(Luciana Mendez is an Advanced
Placement student at the American
School Foundation of Guadalajara.
She writes for the literary magazine,
Sin Fronteras. She
would really like
to thank Dr. Hogan, since he has
helped her grow
as a student and
a person. “Plus, he
is really awesome,”
Luciana Mendez
she says.)

always look forward to reading
a new R. M. Krakoff novel. Timeball, his latest, displays once again
Krakoff’s wild imagination, his ability to
craft a story that is both outrageous and
believable, and filled with dark humor, alternative history, adventure, and love.
I also recommend his earlier books:
Die Laughing is about a stand-up comedian who makes people laugh while his
own life crumbles around him; The Atzlàn Kid assumes a world that might have
been had the Aztecs defeated Cortez;
Future Schlock:2047 places us into a world
controlled by banks, Wall Street, and
mega-corporations, a world in which the
USA has been merged into one of several massive Continental Unions and is
now part of the UFA, Union of Federated
Americas; Dream Hacker—in the near
future, in a world of Haves versus Havenots, impoverished young adults organize into a devastating army of computer
hackers, preying on wealthy seniors,
hacking into their life savings, their wills,
health records, property and even their
dreams.
In Timeball, Aaron Wells Kinsley, a
thirty-five year old wealthy entrepreneur,
with the help of a new mind technology—not yet totally perfected (and still illegal)—is able to fulfill a boyhood fantasy
of pitching in the major leagues for a St.
Louis team. “I must admit I felt immense
disappointment when I realized I had
awakened in the body of a Browns player
and not one of my beloved Cardinals.”
For one year he will be Browns pitcher Albert Hollingsworth…but his “mind,
spirit, soul is that of a twenty-first century
time traveler Aaron Wells Kinsley.” Aaron
selected 1944 because players then
“were smaller, slower” and “nearly all the
stars of the game were defending our
country at war.”
Incidentally, and a delight to most
readers and certainly to fans, Albert Hollingsworth and the other players in the
book are real, as are the ball parks and
even the games themselves. Professional
players are still ordinary people. Albert is
salaried at a refreshing $197.95 a week.
Aaron Kinsley of course must “pretend” to be Albert Hollingsworth. That
includes attending meetings of a covert
German cult—run by “Himmler’s own
henchwomen”—determined to destroy
America and its president. Aaron-now-

38

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Albert would like to destroy the Nazi organization but a strict condition of mind
travel is that it is “Not to take any risk of
potentially altering history….”
Aaron-now-Albert is attracted to a
barmaid named Bonnie, “a very attractive and athletic-looking blonde” who
“has a thing for ballplayers.” But it turns
out Albert already has a friend, Annie, “a
petite red-headed female wearing way
too much eye makeup.” Our hero does
not recognize her and he realizes that
“Hollingsworth has a past that I have yet
to uncover and it appears that his past
is now my present.” He tells Annie, who
has been waiting at his door, “I do remember your face but I can’t recall your
name.” Annie informs him that they have
had a “strong physical relationship for a
couple of years now….and for your information my name is Annie Buster, from
Chicago, thank you very much.” Our hero
introduces Annie to sexual pleasures that
women rarely experienced in the 40s. “I…
Jesus, Al…what are you doing?”
Our hero does become a successful
pitcher. I liked the banter between players, and the games and trips in those far
more innocent times. Aaron-now- Albert
loves the mid-forties: “This is a wonderful
time to be alive. People are more open,
honest, and direct than in the year 2020.
Life is simple. You work, you play, and occasionally you pray. People are proud of
their work and their contribution to their
city state and country.”
(Krakoff will be the featured writer
at the Meet the Writer Luncheon at Oasis Cloud Café on September 24. Further
information at info@oasiscloud.mx or
765-3516. Timeball is available at Diane
Pearl’s Colecciones and at Amazon and
in various electronic forms including
Kindle.)

Saw you in the Ojo 39

PROFILING TEPEHUA
%\0RRQ\HHQ.LQJ
PRRQLH#\DKRRFRP

T

here have been many editorials regarding the “War
against Women” raging
around the world, an outcry for
equality and liberation. There is also
the surge of educating Third World
women about self help. That does not
get as much attention as the other
does.
Micro financing for women and the
development of co-operatives aim at
the independence of women. Micro
financing and co-operatives’ goals and
principles are the same. ‘Co-operative
Enterprise’, written by MacDonald,
Wallace and MacPherson, explains in
layman’s terms exactly what it means.
Simply put, it means pooling resources, group ownership, borrowing without interest.
Dr. Mohammad Yunus started
micro financing for women in India in
the 1970’s. He had noted that when
the women borrowed from banks with
interest, it dug them into a cycle of
debt they couldn’t get out of. Pooling
resources helped the women to meet
their common economic goals and
social needs. Dr. Yunus also started
the Gameen Bank for Micro Financing
in Bangladesh that enticed women to
borrow without interest, because they
paid back their loan in full, whereas
men didn’t.
Interestingly enough, the first
co-operative was the Pawn Shop,
started in the 1500’s by Franciscan
Monks. Then came credit unions in
the 1800’s in England and Germany,
followed in the 1900’s by America and
Canada. According to “Co-op News
and Community Action”, human cooperation dates back prior to written
history; it is natural. The survival of
humans is directly linked to working
together for the common welfare. With
no concept of privately owned land or
tools or resources, it all works for the
common good.
In Mexico, the reform act of 1915
created a co-operative in shared land
called Ejido. The state retained title to
the land but granted the villagers (Ejidatorios) the right to farm. They could
not sell the land nor mortgage it, only
pass it to their heirs. And, if the land
was not worked, another could apply
for it.
In 1992 that changed. Ejidatorios
can choose to rent out their properties

40

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

or mortgage them, and do not need
to maintain their property to retain it.
They can lose it by default...if they miss
payments for a long period of time—a
little like repossessing, the decision of
which belongs to the Local Government Council and the Council for Ejidatorios.
The Tepehua Community Center
plans to build a Co-operative in Tepehua, providing micro-financing for the
women to pool their interests and set
up micro-management in Tepehua.
The Mayor of Chapala, Joaquin Huerta
Barrios, has ‘gifted’ some land to the
Tepehua Centro Comunitario A.C., to
help the empowerment of the women
in the Barrio. Empowering women will
strengthen the ‘middle class’, without
which you have a floundering economy and an unbalanced society.
Tepehua is situated just outside of
the bustling tourist town of Chapala,
and sooner rather than later, tourism
will spill over to Chapala’s outskirts.
The giant church with the figure of
Jesus holding out welcoming arms
to the people overshadows Tepehua.
The municipality has already invested
money around the church, which is
the highest pinnacle in Chapala with
a breathtaking view of the mountains,
lake and the town—a tourist haven.
It will happen. The time has come
for investing in women in the work
place.
Emmilenne de Leon states “Mexico
is a country with many resources, but it
still has a huge gap in the distribution
of wealth. Fifty two percent of the
population lives under the poverty
line, and 70 per cent are women”.
Poverty has a woman’s face and investing in women is not an option but
a necessity for the health of the family
unit.

Saw you in the Ojo 41

CHILD

of the month

%\5LFK3HWHUVHQ
Juan Paul M.

J

uan Paúl is 14 years old and
lives in Ajijic with his parents
and four siblings. Juan Paúl
was born blind, but that didn’t deter
either his family or him from learning to
lead a “normal” life. In Guadalajara there
is a special school for deaf and blind
children (the Instituto de Capacitación
de Niños Ciegos y Sordos– Training
Institute for Blind and Deaf Children.) He
did all his primary education there and
was where he learned to read and write
Braille. This meant that since the age of
five he went to school every day on the
bus, accompanied by his mother. She
would stay and wait for him while he
was in class and then they would return
to Ajijic. There are four other children in
the family, so this determination to help
Juan Paúl was a big commitment on his
mother’s part, not to mention the other
members of the family who had to take
turns caring for the other children.
When Juan Paúl was 12 and ready
for “secundaria,” the school in Guadalajara felt that he could be integrated into
the regular school system as he was very
proficient in Braille and was doing well
with his schoolwork. Initially this move
was unsuccessful because of bullying
and teasing in the local high school, so
he was changed to the Ricardo Flores
Magón High School in Jocotepec, where
they have a special needs teacher who
works with Juan Paúl on a daily basis.
In October 2011 his mother enrolled

42

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

him with Niños Incapacitados, for the
most part to help with the transportation
costs of visits with his ophthalmologist in
Guadalajara—he still suffers from itchy
eyes and has to use special eye drops.
Later in 2013, the family asked if we
could help with the cost of the two daily
round-trips from Ajijic to Jocotepec.
Again, the bus is not a feasible option,
but the family is fortunate enough to
have a small car, so Niños Incapacitados
is paying approximately 1800 pesos per
month for the petrol costs.
Juan Paúl continues to do very well
in school and is a “B” student. He is also
quite musically inclined and plays the
drums in the school band. One difficulty, however, is that his homework has to
be typed out and handed in. One of our
generous members donated a used laptop for him to use, and this was presented to him just last month. You should
have seen the smile on his face! Ideally,
though, what he needs is a newer laptop
or tablet that doesn’t weigh so much,
plus software with speech-activated text
or other aids for a visually impaired person. A printer for use at home would also
be a boon to his studies. It has been very
rewarding to see Juan Paúl’s progress
and to know that he has a teacher who
can help him with his disability, as well
as with the computer.
If you would like to find out more
about the children we help and about
our organization, please attend our
regular monthly meetings at the Hotel
Real de Chapala the second Thursday of
every month—10:00 a.m. for socializing
and coffee, meeting starts at 10:30. For
more information about us and our upcoming fundraising events, please visit
our website: www.programaninos.org
Next meeting is Thursday, September
11.

Saw you in the Ojo 43

:+$735,&()25*,9(1(66"
%\0DULRQ)LVFKPDQ
%DVHGRQDWUXHVWRU\

S

he was lying on the sidewalk in the rear of the Hyatt Hotel in Guadalajara.
Scenes like this were not uncommon
but I never witnessed one before.
For some inexplicable reason, I knew
this was different. Then my sympathy
turned to anger. This should be the Hyatt’s responsibility, not mine. I would
report her body to the manager, then
leave and forget it. But I couldn’t move.
Somewhere in the deep bowels of my
conscience I thought “This could be
me.” Curious, I bent over to read the letters on her bracelet. Inscribed was the
name “Maria.”
Just at that moment her eyes
opened and she turned and looked
piercingly into mine, then gradually
turned her head away. Covering her
face with one arm she weakly motioned with her other one for me to
go away. But I couldn’t abandon her. I
felt she was now in my care. More than
that, she was a part of me, the part I
hid from myself and the world. The me
that knew right from wrong yet sometimes made the wrong choices. Or the
me that would sometimes give up and
want to die. Now I was going to be her
savior.
How I got her into my hotel room
was a miracle. The taxi driver parked in
front of the Hyatt was kind and helpful
and carefully put the repulsive, foulsmelling woman into his nice, clean
cab. Like a rag doll, she was limp and
offered no resistance.
During the short ride to my hotel,
my mind was spinning with ideas and
questions. Would they allow her into
the hotel? I’d manage that somehow.

44

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Then what? Meantime, the driver followed my instructions and explained
to her in a comforting voice that she
was in good hands and would be well
taken care of. The woman opened her
eyes, but for only a moment.
I planned to give her a shower, put
clean clothes on her, then give her a
nourishing meal. But did she speak
English? Was she ill? An alcoholic?
Maybe a drug addict or a mentally
disturbed person? Or just a homeless
street person who could recover with
some care. I would be her benefactor.
Me, the big heroine.
The taxi driver agreed to wait outside for me while I rushed into my
apartment to get a serape to partly
hide my new friend. That’s how I was
able to get her into my place with no
objections from the manager. Still not
a word from Maria. Every time I tried to
talk to her, the only response was a few
words in Spanish.
After I showered her, scrubbed her
twice, her hair had to be washed three
times. Some of my clothes were too big
for her but when we finished, the transformation was gratifying. She stood in
front of the full length mirror with tears
rolling softly down her cheeks. Mine
were inconspicuous compared to hers.
She repeatedly touched her now beautiful glistening black hair.
Then I called room service for some
food. At first she refused to eat. When
she couldn’t resist any longer, she dug
in. I caught her glancing at me in between mouthfuls of food. I figured she
felt ashamed and humbled. But I had
seen enough to recognize she was not
only a handsome woman but one with
much dignity and pride.
Next was a physical and mental examination and evaluation. Fortunately
I knew of a nunnery in Zapopan where
this was available for only a donation.
One of their rules was this service was
for women who would agree to be
their guest for ten days. No less, no

more. They provided clean sleeping
quarters, healthy food and a professional medical examination including
a psychiatric study. Then, if the circumstances allowed, they tried to find a job
and home for their patient before discharging her.
Mother Mary Elena spoke to me,
then privately with Maria. One condition was that she not have visitors for
the first three days. Watching her following the nun and not even looking
back at me, I couldn’t help but wonder
if she was relieved to get away from my
“do good” behavior.
Then, upon returning home, I realized that my four carat diamond ring
was missing. I had worn it to a party
the night before and carelessly left
it on my dresser instead of using the
hotel safe. Who else could have stolen
it but Maria? No wonder she couldn’t
look me in the eye. The hotel manager
agreed to report the theft to the police and also question the employees.
As he suggested, I went to the police
station with my friend and interpreter,
Raul. The police completed their initial
report and promised to investigate—
but they were adamantly against questioning Maria.
Borrowing a sleeping pill that night
helped stop the churning thoughts of
suspicion and anger. Finally I was able

to visit her and when I told the nun the
story, Mother Mary Elena took Maria
into a private room and gently questioned her. Hearing Maria sobbing and
repeating, “No, no,” touched my heart.
Maria refused to see me. The only good
news was that the final doctor’s report
showed nothing wrong with her except severe malnutrition. This gave me
some consolation but not much. The
fire that lit the fury still burned.
Though shamed by my lack of compassion, my suspicions were as strong
as ever. A combustible set of mixed
emotions caused me to make another search of my apartment. Then in a
flash, I remembered. I rushed to the
zippered sofa pillow and there was my
ring.
Raul rushed me to Zapopan to
admit my mistake. But I was too late.
Maria had run away, taking only the
clothes on her back. There was little
doubt she was on the cold winter
streets again. The sisters searched for
her for days. Even the police made an
unsuccessful attempt to find her. We
never saw her again. Many times I’ve
returned to the spot where I first found
her, but I have seen her frail body only
in my weeping dreams.
Perhaps Maria has pardoned me.
Surely God has granted me His mercy.
Maybe someday, I can forgive myself.

Saw you in the Ojo 45

When There Were Ghosts
%\$OEHUWR5tRV

On the Mexico side in the 1950s and 60s,
There were movie houses everywhere
And for the longest time people could smoke
As they pleased in the comfort of the theaters.
The smoke rose and the movie told itself
On the screen and in the air both,
The projection caught a little
In the wavering mist of the cigarettes.
In this way, every story was two stories
And every character lived near its ghost.
Looking up we knew what would happen next
Before it did, as if it the movie were dreaming
Itself, and we were part of it, part of the plot
Itself, and not just the audience.
And in that dream the actors’ faces bent
A little, hard to make out exactly in the smoke,
So that María Félix and Pedro Armendáriz
Looked a little like my aunt and one of my uncles-And so they were, and so were we all in the movies,
Which is how I remember it: Popcorn in hand,
Smoke in the air, gum on the floor-Those Saturday nights, we ourselves
Were the story and the stuff and the stars.
We ourselves were alive in the dance of the dream.
(Ed. Note: Alberto Rios is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and
Poet Laureate of Arizona, and was born in Nogales, AZ.)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The 20th Annual Ojo Awards Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, the 23rd
of September, 12 noon at the Ajijic Tango Restaurant. All those who contributed
tto our pages from October 2013 through
Se
September 2014 are cordially invited and encourag
couraged to bring one guest. All the food, drinks
and entertainment will be provided by the Tingen Family, that as always wishes to express its gratitude to the
many talented writers who are the main reason for our magazine’s success.
We’ll see you there!

46

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Saw you in the Ojo 47

BRIDGE BY THE LAKE
%\.HQ0DVVRQ

P

re-emptive
bidding
causes more than its fair
share of bother. Used judiciously it can create difficulties
for even the most experienced of
players. Such was the case with this
month’s deal but fortunately for
North and South they had a seldom
used gadget in their arsenal that
saved them from a very bad result.
West dealt and opened the bidding with a slightly unorthodox
bid of 3 spades. It is generally recommended that bids at the 3 level
should have most if not all their high
card points in their long suit and
rarely have as much as an ace outside. But the game has evolved to the
point where the benefits of pre-emption are now widely understood so I
dare say that most duplicate players
would have replicated this West’s
opening salvo.
North had an awkward hand to
deal with. He only had 14 high card
points including the spade queen
which was of dubious value. He
could have passed but this could
have put undue pressure on his partner who would have been unlikely
to be able to make a takeout double.
So without too much ado North took
the plunge with a bid of 4 hearts.
East was no doubt glad to not
have to participate in this auction
and passed so now the spotlight
shone on South who had some
problems of his own. With his decent holding South could visualize
the possibility of a slam if North had
the appropriate cards. It seemed to
South that the best contract would
be some number of no trump to be
played from the South hand to protect the KJ2 of spades. Just imagine
that North bought the contract, ei-

48

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

ther in hearts or no trump, and East
was on lead. Any possibility of a slam
would likely dissipate with a spade
lead.
So what was South to do? Pass
and let North play in four hearts
could produce a very poor result if
slam was on from the other side of
the table. After some thought South
decided to bid 4 no trump, Roman
Key Card Blackwood, in the hope
that North would show 3 key cards
(the king of hearts being counted
as a fifth ace) in which case South
could contract for the small slam in
no trump.
Unfortunately North’s response
of 5 hearts showed only 2 key cards
and South feared leaving his partner in this contract due to the aforementioned lead coming from the
East and possibly scuttling the contract right away. But what else could
South do? An immediate bid of 5 no
trump would ask for kings and commit the partnership to the six level
which was known to be unsafe.
Then South remembered a strategy that they played but which
hadn’t come up in an age – a bid of 5
spades (a hitherto unbid suit) would
by agreement request North to bid
5 no trump and which South would
then pass! As South was the first one
to bid no trump, he would buy the
contract.
And that is exactly what happened. With careful play there was
no way to stop South from taking
11 tricks and earn a
well-deserved good
board.
Questions
or
comments: email:
masson.ken@gmail.
com
Ken Masson

THOSE DAMNED MOSQUITOS!
H)
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VHU
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L

eading
ing
ng up
up to
to C
Canada’s
anad
an
da’
a’s
tenniiall iin
n 19
1
967
67, the
th
he
centennial
1967,
federal
provincial
eral and
d provi
incial
i l
governments made grants available to communities to construct
commemorative public buildings,
sports facilities and art works.
Some of the larger cities built new
concert halls and museums, some
of the towns constructed new arenas, murals and statues proliferated
everywhere. The community of Komarno, Manitoba commissioned a
giant statue of a mosquito as their
centennial project. It still stands
proudly beside the highway leading
into town. Given the size of the little
beast, we humans certainly allocate a

llo
ot of
o ttime,
ime,
im
e, eenergy
e,
ne
lot
and
money to it.
it.
t. And, it
money
seems that ev
se
seems
everyone
thinks they have the worst mosquito
infestation in the world.
At a minimum, mosquitoes are
a nuisance – most of us have a mild
allergic reaction to the saliva they
exchange for our blood, some have
a strong reaction. At worst, they can
carry viruses and parasites that they
also leave us with during the bloodsucking operation and that can lead
to serious illness and death. Some
of the many diseases borne by mosquitoes include Yellow Fever, Malaria, West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever,
various brain infections including en-

cephalitis, and a new one here in the
Western Hemisphere – Chikungunya.
If you read the literature, you will
find there are many strains of mosquitoes, and a few seem to cause
most of the damage. In the midst of
an attack, I doubt that many of us are
interested in which variation is doing the damage; we just want to swat
them and figure out how to keep
them away from us. There are natural products and synthetics that help
to prevent mosquitoes from being
a bother, there are things you burn,
stuff you rub onto your skin, sprays,
traps, fans, netting and screens, no
end of human ingenuity applied to
keeping the little monsters away.
Once bitten, there are also a myriad of products to alleviate the itching
and swelling. However, for the serious diseases there is a paucity of preventive measures available. There is
currently no licensed vaccine for West
Nile Virus, Dengue Fever or Chikungunya, although the Center for Disease Control reports that it is in Stage
III trials with a vaccine for Dengue.
Similarly, there are no specific medications to treat these diseases once
contracted. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are not life-threatening,
and most infected people recover after a few days or weeks of fever and

discomfort. Standard medicines that
reduce fever, pain killers and antiinflammatories are all we have available. Of course, it is the rare case that
leads to a death that makes the headlines and leaves us wondering how to
protect ourselves. Given that there
have been 1.5 million reported West
Nile infections since 1999, and it is
estimated that 390 million people are
infected with Dengue each year, even
a small percentage of fatal infections
will leave a lot of people dead.
Just as the female mosquitoes
require the protein from blood to
produce eggs, so they also need
standing water in which to lay the
eggs, and thick grasses or shrubbery
in which to protect themselves from
the dehydrating effect of the sun
while they are plotting their next attack. Therefore, paying attention to
the state of your property helps keep
mosquitoes at bay – keep the grass
cut, make sure there is no standing water after a rain storm, thin out
those bushy shrubs.Those of us over
50 are considered to be at greater risk
and therefore need to take more precautions. If you do start to experience
a fever, joint or muscle pain, unusual
headaches, a strange rash, fatigue
or weakness you may want to check
with your doctor.

Saw you in the Ojo 49

THE CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE COMES
TO GUADALA
AJARA
%\0LFKDHO+RJDQ

S

oldiers line the tarmac.
Automatic weapons with toylike plastic stocks, but real
bullets, are borne by boys with coal
black eyes. They flirt with las muchachas.
The girls are excited by the fiesta mood of
the crowd, the boys’ eyes drawn to their
short skirts, to a naked shoulder slipping
from a blouse.
It is the last week of the rainy season.
Already La Zapopanita, tiny Virgin of corn
paste, has been carried to the Basilica.
We are safe from plague for another year;
protected from the rains which flood the
arroyos, wash away the crops, and uproot
the ancient trees.
The vintage planes rev their engines.
The loud-speakers play Glenn Miller. My
good friend sways to the old familiar
tunes. Nostalgia and excitement merge
in him like the confluence of two rugged
rivers.
The loudspeaker announces el piloto
of the first plane will be CAPITAN JEEMEE O’BREE-HAN OF TAY-HAHS. O’Brian
of Texas. The Irish, as mother says, are everywhere. Here, too, they are loved. For in
Mexico, when los Yanquis said: War! The
Irish deserted in droves, fought alongside
their fellow Catholics, and those not killed
in battle were hanged from the gallows in
San Angel by the conquering gringos. Los
San Patricios, those of Saint Patrick, are still
green in the Mexican memory, connected
to the roots of the ash trees, flying in the
green branches.

50

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

Now O’Brian of Tejas has returned
with the entire Confederate Air Force!
There is his ghost plane taking off now
in the east, his jaunty thumbs-up to the
two thousand Mexicans thronging the
runway as the soldiers yell at the crowd
(rifles at point arms): “Detrás, detrás, quince
metros!” But the crowd ignores the boy
soldiers, pushing forward against the barrels of atomic weapons. The loud speaker
is now playing “Danny Boy,” and above the
lugubrious tune is the sound of the gallant engine in a flimsy metal craft which
inspires the crows to wheel from the trees
in formation, quiet and disciplined.
Something about the day, the air, the
music, which makes the crowd forget Tejas, (O Hated Republic! O Arrogant State)
and think instead of Capitan O’Breehan,
el irlandés, doing a loop now over the
crowd, then another, now climbing up in
the morning’s perilous sun, and then descending, Flying Tiger teeth on the fuselage, machine gun blazing at an unseen
enemy.
This irlandés is for us all. And we know
him. Just as the zopilotes know, blackly
secure in their haven of majestic ash trees
beyond the furrowed fields in the darkening morning with the old corn stalks drying. Just as the hawks know, banking lazily over the sun flowers, the dandelions,
then swooping down through the flame
trees to where un ratóncito discovers the
world is no longer safe.
A bomber takes off now, shining silver
and terrible on the dark runway, “MIREN A
LA IZQUIERDA!” the loud speaker blares.
The Queen of Terror, “LA SUPERFORTRES,”
thundering down the sky. “TAL VEZ...UNA
BOMBA.” And yes! Explosions at the west
end of the field: flame, black oily smoke,
tremors of the earth!
Thunderheads from over the ash trees:
there is rain in the air. The fields grow dark
and shadowed. The buzzards crane their
bald necks. They know that man is nothing more than a soul holding up a corpse.
But it is this soul, once briefly
seen, remembered by old warriors in
Legionnaire caps, by my friend singing
along (and now dancing!) to Tommy
Dorsey at the end of the rainy season on
a damp Mexican airfield, which beckoned

us here. There is lightning in the air, the
taste of sulphur, and the loud speaker
shifting to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tapsâ&#x20AC;? as the fighters fly in
formation over the field, the crowd, the
soldiers and the young girls, all frozen in
place looking upwards.
Then one plane peels off from the formation, flies south alone over the hills, in
memory of el piloto perdido, the one lost,
whose soul impregnates the morning sky,
who holds us bound together with the
furrowed fields, the ash trees, the dying
field mouse, young soldiers and old warriors, and the rain coming down in great
drops, like holy water sprinkling the faithful.

(Ed. Note: Michael Hogan is the author of 22 books, including the best-selling Irish Soldiers of Mexico. He lives in Guadalajara with Lucinda Mayo and their dog
Molly Malone. This selection is from his
book Mexican Mornings: Essays South of
the Border which can be purchased from
Amazon in either paperback or Kindle.)
http://www.
amazon.com/M exican-M ornings-Essays-South-Border/
dp/1552129292/
ref=tmm_pap_title_0?
ie=UTF8&qid=140770
6781&sr=8-1
Michael Hogan

Saw you in the Ojo 51

THE GHOSTS AMONG US
%\)UHG0LWWDJ
“Remembering Sandy Hook”

A

fter the massacre at Sandy
Hook Elementary, one mother asked
Governor Malloy in the
funeral home to look
at her son, six-year-old
Noah Pozner. His mouth
and jaw were blown off.
The governor wept at the
sight. The mother said if
gun control legislation
ever came across the gov1RDK3R]QHU±

ernor’s desk, she wanted
him to remember her
lated militia.”
son’s face.
In 1977, the NRA supported a ban
The debate in colonial America
on “Saturday Night Special” handguns.
was over maintaining state militias
That same year, they had a convention
vs. a standing army. King George had
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Angry conservaa standing army that could oppress
tives who opposed the ban on “Saturpeople. Colonists saw state militias as
day Night Specials” voted out the leadprotection against the abuse of cenership of the NRA. Gun manufacturers
tralized authority.
began to give them money to lobby
But the Articles of Confederaagainst gun laws. The NRA’s lurch to
tion had been a disaster. The need
the far right was part of the abrupt
for strong central authority is what
shift across the Republican base. Racthe Constitutional Convention was all
ism played a major role, as millions of
about. Should that authority include a
white Southern Democrats fled to the
standing army?
Republicans. They saw guns as imporThere were no city police in early
tant to their defense against racial danAmerica. Every man between the ages
gers. In 2008, the election of a black
of 16 and 60 was required to own a
president spurred a big spike in gun
gun at home. The gunpowder, howsales. Republicans own twice as many
ever, was kept in common storage in
guns as Democrats.
the town. The militias did police work
Conservative Republican presiand most importantly, were ready to
dents appointed Republican judges.
keep potential slave rebellions under
The stage was set. Congressmen were
control. The final version of the Second
frightened of the NRA’s political power.
Amendment passed by Congress and
The Supreme Court became a rightkept in the National Archives reads: “A
wing ideological majority of five.
well regulated Militia, being necessary
A security guard named Dick Heller
to the security of a free State, the right
wanted to bring his gun home. But it
of the people to keep and bear Arms,
was illegal in Washington, D.C. to have
shall not be infringed.”
a handgun in one’s home. Heller chalThe Supreme Court ruled on sevlenged this and it came to the U.S.
eral related cases over the next 200
Supreme Court. Vice President Dick
years, and every time found that the
Cheney filed a brief with the Court,
Amendment applied only to the right
backing Heller.
of states to maintain a militia and not
Five Republican justices struck
to any individual right to bear arms.
down the D.C. law banning guns in
A grammatical point noted by
the home. In this one landmark case,
scholars is that the first clause is an ab200 years of American jurisprudence
lative absolute. In grammar, that means
was turned upside down. Now, for the
that the first clause sets the conditions
first time, the Second Amendment
for which the rest of the sentence is
protected an individual right to keep
valid. What this means is that the part
arms. This interference with the D.C.
that says, “the right of the people to
legislative process made this an “activkeep and bear arms” can only be in the
ist” Court.
context of the descriptive “A well regu-

52

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

As late as 1990, Republican Chief
Justice Warren Burger wrote that the
idea that the Second Amendment protected an individual right to keep arms
was “. . . one of the greatest pieces of
fraud, I repeat the word ‘fraud,’ on the
American public by special interest
groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.”
Cities instituted police departments and America acquired a standing army. Militias vanished completely
in 1903 and are now called the National Guard. They are trained at federal
expense and are at the president’s disposal. The whole rationale for the Sec-

Dear Sir:
The new mega treatment plant
on the north side of Guadalajara
will be a big step in cleaning up
the Santiago, Jalisco’s filthiest
river. My husband Antonio and
I firmly believe that the treated
water could be as big a plus for
Jalisco’s largest freshwater lake.
If there was a second aqueduct,
it could be used to carry that water back to Lake Chapala. It could
carry water both ways - to Guad
and to the lake - depending where
the need was. There could be an
international design competition

To the Attention of Fred Mittag:
Well, I just read your article on
Rommel and wanted to let you know
how much I appreciated your accuracy and respect for this very courageous soldier. My husband and I had
a group travel business and one of
our favorite clients was a U.S. Military
professor who traveled with us for
15 years. He lived and breathed this
war (WWII) and we learned more
than any textbook could ever have
the space to print it.
Rommel’s name came up many
times and always mentioned with
great respect. The professor even

ond Amendment evaporated. It would
be extinct were it not for the case
of Heller in 2008 that converted it to
mean an individual right to keep arms.
However ideological, the Supreme
Court is the final word on constitutional questions. The Heller decision means
a lot of new questions will have to be
decided. How far
does this individual
right extend? May a
convicted
criminal
still buy firearms,
as he has the right
of continued free
speech? Sorry, Noah.
Fred Mittag

with the winner getting the biggest bottle of Jalisco’s best tequila. Hmmm. Sounds too logical to
me. Think it could ever happen??
Saludos.
Nanette Phillips
San Antonio Tlayacapan
Our Editor Replies:
We enthusiastically approve
of any plan that would be more
water to our beloved lake. As to
whether it could happen because
of the idea you mention, we can
only fall back on that old bromide,
“Que sera, sera.”

named his female ridge-back dog
after him. Another thing you mentioned that the professor pointed
out was the fact that the Germans
out-soldiered us, but we out-machined them. And that is essentially
what you said in this article. I think
Rommel recognized it.
Really enjoyed your article as the
professor made a WWII student out
of me. My other all-time hero was
General George S. Patton.
Thanks for writing it.
Phyllis Ewing
paceinaxixic@yahoo.com

Dear Sir:
First, I wish to congratulate you on
your Benjamin Franklin award. Well deserved. And thank you for continuing
to publish thought-provoking and, at
times perhaps, provocative contributions to the Ojo.
In the August issue Fred Mittag
captures correctly the political climate
of the US – a climate driven by paranoia, hate, divisiveness and money. US
citizens may believe that they have the
best government in the world. The way
I see it, the US has the worst government corporate campaign contributions can buy.
I cannot for the life of me understand (though I know the historical
underpinning) how a country of 330
million people has only two political
parties. Is there no diversity of political
opinion in such a large country? Only
“conservatives” and “liberals” (Democrats)? Are there no shades of grey, just
black and white? Such simplistic and
naive perspective unfortunately is reflected, not only in domestic but also
in foreign policy to the detriment of
the US. I believe the world is a bit more
complex than that.
George W. Bush’s words ring true,
today more than ever: “You’re either
for us or against us.”“United” States has
become a misnomer. A more appropriate name would be “Divided” States of
whatever. Take a look at your electoral
map and the blobs of red and the blue,
and you will see what I mean. By the

way, I no longer use the word “America”
or “American” when referring to the US
or its citizens because America is not
a country, but a continent, with about
35 countries.
Mr. Mittag is also right about the
lack of logic in conservative thinking
and the spewing of hate and brainwashing by certain media outlets and
news channels: “raw red meat,” he calls
it, just as the Romans fed the lions in
the Coliseum to entertain the uneducated masses.
One notorious anchor who claims
to have the largest audience for 14
years running often uses as his clinching argument, “Everyone knows.” First,
given the low academic world rankings of US high school graduates, I
would not be overly proud of being
the show with the largest audience.
Secondly, in logic, the phrase “everyone knows” is considered a logical fallacy and proves nothing.
Given the aforementioned complexity of the world, with ISIS beheading US journalists and “non-believers”
in Iraq and nightly rioting in the streets
of Ferguson, Missouri, US-ers had better reflect deeply before voting in the
upcoming elections, even if there are
only two choices.
Karl Homann
dm-209742.khh@live.ca
dm.209742.khh@gmail.com
lakemonk41@outlook.com
376.766.3766
662.111.0234

When members ask me how much of their LCS annual dues
LVXVHGWRÂżQDQFHSURJUDPVWKH\DUHRIWHQVXUSULVHGZKHQ
I tell them virtually none. The fact is almost all money collected from your dues goes to operating expenses (mostly
utilities, salaries, and building and grounds maintenance).
0RVWRIWKHPRQH\XVHGWRÂżQDQFHRXUSURJUDPVIRUPHPbers and the Mexican community comes from fund-raising
events and donations. In the spirit of Neill James, LCSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; original benefactor, you may bequeath a legacy to LCS that will
help continue these valuable programs to our community.
Introducing children to the arts and empowering women
through vocational skills and educational opportunities were
her primary passions when she settled in Ajijic.
6HYHUDO RI KHU LPSRUWDQW SURJUDPV FRQWLQXH WR Ă&#x20AC;RXULVK
today under the auspices of LCS: , English as a Second
Language classes, which served over 240 children and
adults this year; a community library of English and Spanish collections; the very popular Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Program;
Needlepushers, an organization of volunteers who knit and
sew childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing; computer classes; and tuition assistance for 36 university students who have demonstrated
ÂżQDQFLDOQHHG
,I \RX EHOLHYH LQ WKH EHQHÂżWV RI WKHVH SURJUDPV \RX FDQ
ensure their long term viability by establishing a bequest
to LCS. Legacy gifts to LCS may be left in wills, trusts or
estate plans to support a favorite cause or help people in
need. To help ensure the success of our work in the community, you may also bequeath property, such as a car, jewelry or art that can be sold, or you may designate LCS as a
EHQHÂżFLDU\RQDEDQNDFFRXQWRULQVXUDQFHSROLF\
Gifts to charitable institutions are simple to make and may
KDYH VLJQLÂżFDQW WD[ EHQHÂżWV WR \RXU HVWDWH 'LVFXVV \RXU
RSWLRQVZLWK\RXUÂżQDQFLDOSODQQHURUDWWRUQH\)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQSLFNXSDQLQIRUPDWLYHEURFKXUHLQWKH/&6RIÂżFH
Your bequest from the heart will bring dignity, meaning, and
purpose to a life well-lived.

Renowned local muralist,
painter, gallery owner and artist,
Javier Zaragoza, dreamt of
selling his paintings when he
was eight and a student at Neill
James' Children's Art Program
where he got free paper, pencils,
brushes, and paints; students
could sell their work and keep
the proceeds.
Over the next 5 years, Javier's
skill, earnings and ambition grew, along with Neill James'
dream that he would become a professional artist. He was 14
when James offered a scholarship to Javier to study at The Art
Institute of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Javier again
followed his dreams and returned to Ajijic a year-and-a-half
later to begin his career as an artist.
Later Ixtlahuacan priest Pablo Cedillo, observed him painting
in the street and Javier's life-long vocation began. He was commissioned to paint a series of murals in the church about the life
of St. James, which earned him $3,000 pesos. Javier's father, a
ORFDOÂżVKHUPDQULJJHGDURSHEDUWRVXSSRUWWKH\HDUROGDV
he painted the six 12 by 20 foot murals.
Javier went to the U.S. and for eight years, he worked in
factories while pursuing free art lessons and learned English.
His break came when Gannett Outdoor Company hired him
as the 50th member of their Billboard Unit, a fantastic and
SURÂżWDEOH \HDU H[SHULHQFH +H SDLQWHG PRYLH VWDUV FDUV
show girls, ads for Marlboro, Kools, Black Velvet Scotch and
even bottles of tequila with a girl on the side.
Commercial art was not Javier's passion. He returned to
Ajijic in 1999 and has grown in stature and reputation as an
accomplished painter.
For the past few years, Javier has devoted himself to teaching local children who, as he did, participate in the Saturday
LCS Children's Art Program (CAP) where he was an art instructor from 2001-2005. He's delighted to help lakeside's future artists and says that he is now truly living his dream.
Currently celebrating its 60th year, CAP meets every Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon on the LCS back patio. It's free, and all
children are welcome. The program also receives support from
the Ajijic Society of Artists (ASA).
Volunteers are needed to help out with the growing weekly
attendance of 50-100 children, rain or shine. There are no special language or art requirements: just patience, a kind heart,
and a willingness to be involved with the community.

,QWRWKHVW&HQWXU\
Now you can follow us on Facebook. Keep
up to date on the many programs and events
at LCS. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Likeâ&#x20AC;? us at www.facebook.com/
lakechapalasociety.

The Lake Chapala
6RFLHW\ LV SRZHUHG
E\H6XQHQHUJ\

56

September 2014

El Ojo del Lago / September 2014

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&KDUUHUtD&KDUURVDQG'DQFLQJ+RUVHV
Caballos con mucho brĂ­o, y charros con seĂąorĂ­o. (Horses
with great spirit and gentlemen horseman) Continue your
education with the third presentation of Experimenta Mexico.
The charreada or charrerĂ­a is a competitive event similar to a
rodeo and was developed from animal husbandry practices
used on the haciendas of old Mexico. The sport has been
described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;living history,â&#x20AC;? or as an art form drawn from
the demands of working life. Evolving from the traditions
EURXJKWIURP6SDLQLQWKHWKFHQWXU\WKHÂżUVWcharreadas
were ranch work competitions between haciendas.
The modern charreada developed after the Mexican
Revolution when charro traditions were disappearing.
Competing charros often came from families with a tradition
of charreria, and teams today are often made up from
H[WHQGHGIDPLOLHVZKRKDYHEHHQSHUIRUPLQJIRUXSWRÂżYH
generations.
Charro is a term referring to a traditional horseman from
Mexico. The Mexican terms vaquero and ranchero (cowboy
and rancher) are similar to the charro but are different in
culture, etiquette, mannerisms, dress, tradition and social
status.
CharrerĂ­a, the culture of horsemanship and rodeo riding
in Mexico, is the focus of this exciting new interactive
presentation to be held Friday, 12th September at Lake
Chapala Society, from 5 to 7:30 pm. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn about this
Mexican national sport and discover who and what the
charros are and how they use communication and respect
to train their horses to dance.
You will get a chance to experience this live and see charros
perform amazing tricks with the rope. There will be a mini
class in which you'll learn some of the rope tricks.
Included will be a shot of tequila from local producers Sandy
and Daniel. Tequila will be for sale at discounted prices. Cost
for this exciting educational presentation is $250 pesos for
LCS members and $300 pesos for non-members. Reserve
your place: experamentamexico@lakechapalasociety.com.

7KH/&6OLEUDU\QRZOLVWVVFLÂżDQGIDQWDV\ERRNVE\JHQUHVR
if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not sure of the title or the author youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re searching for, you
can now check out computer listings in those categories.
-XVWD6XJJHVWLRQ
If you have trouble reading small print, you might want to consider perusing our selection of large print books in Room 2 of the
main library. You might also check out the hundreds of audio
books in the Talking Books Library nestled on the back veranda.
This tiny treasure of a library has hundreds of books on tape. By
special arrangement, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve acquired the Library of Congress collection of tapes of virtually all kinds of publications. Originally made
for the disabled, they are now available here exclusively to American citizens.
Talking Books is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. so you can
browse at your leisure. We operate on the honor system, so you
may borrow as many tapes as you like for as long as you like. Donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Look for the
blue doors on the back veranda.

9,'(2/,%5$5<1(:$ '',7,216
New for September
See the Video Library bulletin board and the
ELQGHUVRQWKHFRXQWHUWRÂżQGÂżOPVRILQWHUHVW
We have four documentaries this month that might interest you: 86YV
-RKQ/HQQRQ# 6623 A documentary on the life of John Lennon with a
focus on the time in his life when he was transformed from a musician
into an antiwar activist. The Imposter # 6620 A young Frenchman
claims to be the missing 16-year-old son of a Texas family who has been
grieving his absence for 3 years. Francisco, El Papa de Todos # 6630
7KHVWRU\RIWKHHOHFWLRQRI-RUJH0DULR%HUJRJOLRWKHÂżUVWSRSHIURP
WKH$PHULFDVDQGWKHÂżUVWIURPWKHVRXWKHUQKHPLVSKHUH The Heart of
the Game # 6618 A documentary featuring the Roosevelt Roughriders,
DJLUOVÂśKLJKVFKRROEDVNHWEDOOWHDPLQ6HDWWOHDQGRQHSOD\HU
VÂżJKWWR
regain her eligibility to play.
QuinceaĂąera # 6627 As Magdalena's 15th birthday approaches, her
simple, blissful life is complicated: she discovers she's pregnant.
Get the Gringo # 6613 A career criminal nabbed by Mexican authorities
is placed in a tough prison where he learns to survive with the help of a
ten-year-old boy.
7KUHH IRUHLJQ ÂżOPV WR FRQVLGHU Besieged # 6616 When an African
dictator jails her husband, Shandurai goes into exile in Italy, studying
medicine and keeping house for Mr. Kinsky, an eccentric English pianist
and composer. -HDQGH)ORUHWWH and Manon of the Springâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; both on
the same disc, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;twoferâ&#x20AC;? # 6615 A greedy landowner and his backward
nephew conspire to block the only water source for an adjoining property
in order to bankrupt the owner and force him to sell. In this sequel to
Jean de Florette, Manon has grown into a beautiful young shepherdess
living in the idyllic Provencal countryside, determined to take revenge
upon the men responsible for the death of her father which happens in
WKHÂżUVWÂżOP
The Kings of Summer # 6631 Joe Toy, on the verge of adolescence,
ÂżQGVKLPVHOILQFUHDVLQJO\IUXVWUDWHGE\KLVVLQJOHIDWKHU)UDQN
VDWWHPSWV
to manage his life. Declaring his freedom once and for all, he escapes
to a clearing in the woods with his best friend, Patrick, and a strange
kid named Biaggio, to build a house there, free from responsibility and
parents.
This is just a partial list of the new additions for September. If you
havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been here before, drop by the LCS Video Library. The volunteer
RQGXW\FDQKHOS\RXVHOHFWDÂżOPWKHYLGHRVZHKDYHDYDLODEOH
In addition to renting movies we can transfer any VHS tapes that you
have to DVD discs which take up less space and last longer. At 50
pesos per tape, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheap.
,I WKHUH LV D ÂżOP \RXÂśYH KDYH QHYHU VHHQ DQG ZRXOG OLNH WR VHH RU D
favorite you want to see again, ask the volunteer on duty if we have it. If
we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it, leave the title of the movie, your name and your email
address and we will let you know if and when we might add it to our
inventory. Also available at the Video Library are many VHS tapes and
DIHZ'9'VIRUVDOHDWRQO\ÂżYHSHVRVHDFK

&DVL1XHYR1HZV
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to take it with you? Let our experts sell your excess
household items quickly and make your moving job easier.
No item is too small or too expensive. Large consignment
LWHPV"1RSUREOHP:HFDQUHFRPPHQGDTXDOLÂżHGORZFRVW
mover to pick up and deliver your items to our store. We also
buy selected items for cash. Please be aware that we do not
accept or sell electronic items.
Now under new management, we will re-open the store on
September 1. We are still an all-volunteer organization and
we need additional volunteers. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to have a fun job,
learn a bit more Spanish and help provide a needed service,
come to the store and sign up.
We thank both Mike Campo and Jacqueline Smith for their
years of service and dedication to make Casi Nuevo the
success that it is!
We support the 300 children in our three charities: LCS
Community Education Program, School for Children with
Special Needs, and Have Hammer...Will Travel. Look for red
store with the corner door across from 7-Eleven in Riberas
de la Pilar. Our hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Saturday. Call 376 106-2121 for more information.

1HZ0DLO&RXULHU6HUYLFHIRU&DQDGD
The new LCS volunteer mail courier service for our
Canadian members started August 1st. The service is for
regular envelopes weighing up to 30 grams only. Stamps for
destinations in Canada are $15 MXN. Stamps for destinations
outside of Canada: $45 MXN.
&DQDGLDQ PHPEHUV WKLV VHUYLFH LV IRU \RX 7KH RIÂżFH ZLOO
separate mail with U.S. vs. Canadian stamps. We need
volunteers traveling to Canada to courier the mail with
&DQDGLDQVWDPSV&RQÂżUPDWWKHVHUYLFHGHVNWKDW\RXKDYH
the correct mail, and sign for it.
Also, we will need Canadian members to bring stamps
to us maintain our inventory. Contact administracion@
lakechapalasociety for details. Please be aware that the mail
courier service is for LCS members only.

THURSDAY FILM AFICIONADOS
/&60HPEHUV2QO\%ULQJ<RXU&DUG
$OOÂżOPVVKRZQLQWKH6DOD
No food No pets
September 4 12:00 noon A Five Star Life - (Viaggio Sola) 2013
Italy Forty-something Irene has a dream job that makes her life
easy: she's a luxury hotel inspector who travels the world... but does
a dream job necessarily mean a dream life?
September 11 2:00 p.m. 7KH/XQFK%R[ (Dabba)- 2013 India A
PLVWDNHQ GHOLYHU\ LQ 0XPEDL
V %RPED\
IDPRXVO\ HIÂżFLHQW OXQFK
delivery system connect a young housewife to an older man.
September 18 12:00 noon /H:HHNHQG2013 UK, France A British
couple return to Paris many years after their honeymoon in an
attempt to rejuvenate their marriage.
September 25 2:00 p.m. Starred Up 2013 UK A troubled and
explosively violent teenager is transferred to adult prison.
Extraordinarily realistic portrayal of life in a British prison.

&DWÂśV0HRZ
Prices for pet food have skyrocketed! We need more dinero to care
for and maintain our little buddies in good health. Another $2,000
pesos will bring our budget in line this month. Please consider
making a donation of $20, $50, or $100 pesos at the CafĂŠ Patio
table.

Costco Returns in September
Costco is scheduled to be here September 9 and 10 from 10-2 on
the Blue Umbrella Patio. Sign up or renew your membership, ask
questions and learn about sales and special promotions.

'LVFXVVLRQDQG3KLORVRSK\*URXSV5HWXUQ
The Discussion Group and the Philosophy Group will return in the
fall. Watch for the schedule. For information, contact Roger Heath at
heathesq@hotmail.com.

9RWHU$VVLVWDQFHIRU86(OHFWLRQV
U.S. Voter Registration and absentee ballot forms will be available on
the Blue Umbrella Patio on Mondays from September 1 to October
13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sponsored by Democrats Abroad. For
additional information contact Howard Feldstein at howard42@
gmail.com or call 766-5707.

Executive Director - Terry Vidal
The LCS Newsletter is published monthly. Deadline for submissions is the 17th of the month preceding publication.
News items may be e-mailed to Reba Mayo rebaelizabethhill@yahoo.com; cc Terry Vidal tqv56431@yahoo.com
Note: The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions according to time, space availability and editorial decision.

COMPUTERS
FOR SALE: Old Computers PC Notebook. Refurbed by Sony & new battery &
H.D. 2 years ago. Not cheap plastic crap
w/no DVD drive. Windows XP but upgradable to W7. Docking station and 2 extra
7650ma batteries. Bat life: 4 - 8.5 hours.
Weight 3#. Price: $1,750.00. Call: 376765-6348. I can eMail you specs if you
want.
FOR SALE: Lenovo IMB Thinkpad laptop. 160 gb hdDVD player/recorder. Top of
the line Thinkpad. Very durable computer.
Currently has Zorin Linux on it, which has
an interface similar to Windows XP. Will
UXQ:LQGRZVRUMXVWÂżQHDQG,ZLOOLQstall them for you if you have the install
disks. However, Linux will provide you with
a much more secure experience. Price:
$2,600 pesos. Call: 376-765-3516
:$17('IPHONE 4S, 5, 5S o 5C. I
want an IPHONE any model from 4S, I had
one but trade for a galaxy 2 at the end of
7HOFHOFRQWUDFWDQG,Â?PQRWVDWLVÂżHGLI\RX
have one even if its screen is damaged but
repairable send me a mail please.
FOR SALE: Monitor LCD Flat Panel.
HP Monitor 19 inch excellent condition. 90
day guarantee. Price: $55.00 US dollars.
FOR SALE: USB Memory Stick Flash
Drives: 1GB (100 Pesos); 4GB (150 Pesos); 32GB (320 Pesos). Contact me at
ernst_graf@yahoo.com or call me at 7663210.

PETS & SUPPLIES
FREE: 2 dogs need homes ASAP. After
being in a serious vehicle accident about
two months ago, the owners of two beautiful dogs have to return to the United States
with their son. They are unable to care for
themselves and need 24-hour care. The
dogs, Duke & Princess, are therefore desperately searching for new loving owners
to care for them. They are both about 7
years old and are neutered and spayed.
Friendly and good with kids. They will bark
at persons passing by, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bark at
night. Please pass the word and help the
RZQHUVÂżQGWKHPDQHZKRPHTXLFNO\
FOR SALE: Marty is a black male standard poodle, AKC registered, crate trained,
smart, loving, non-shedding and available
now with 3 vaccines. Parents are Patty &
Giorgio (pictures attached). Price: $5,500.
spschools_711@yahoo.com.
FREE: Black and white Panamanian.
Cats are brother and sister. Both cats are
declawed and neutered. These are my
Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cats and she has fallen twice because the cats are underfoot. Looking for a
good home for these guys.
FOR SALE: Four beautiful Shih Tzu
puppies. 3 females ($3,500) and 1 male

chased at Muebles Plascencia a high-end
furniture store in Guadalajara, for $21,000.
The dining room set is in Riberas del Pilar.
Contact: Carlos at 331-423-6767.
FOR SALE: Pool table 8 foot regulation. New cloth + vinyl cover 48 snooker
balls with rack, 2 sets of 8 balls like new
made in Belgium with rack + regulation
board and 3 lights on a bar + more Price
$1,200 U S dollars
:$17(' I want to buy a dependable
used golf cart.
FOR SALE: Hogan irons in great conGLWLRQ SZ ÂżUP VWHHO VKDIW ZLWK /DPNLQ
grips. Price: $1,500p.
FOR SALE: Wood Frame / Glass Display Case. Great for displaying all types
merchandise. measures 3.5ft H x 20â&#x20AC;? W x
6 ft. L If. Price: $3,500. Interested please
contact me at 622-131-2951.
FOR SALE: Stand Up Freezer is good
working condition has about 5 interior and
door shelves. Price: $1,800. If interested
contact me at 622-131-2951.
FOR SALE: Tor-Rey Industrial grade
refrigerator with clear glass doors for display of merchandise. Used for one year
and is in great working condition. Price:
$14,000. Call: 622-131-2951.
FOR SALE: Couch, 4 piece sectional,
L shaped, emerald Green cloth, with 2
recliners catchcan_4@outlook.com 376766-5770.
FOR SALE: A complete SOLOFLEX
system for sale complete with leg and upper body extensions. In excellent condition
for home use. A total body work out system. A new system costs $15,000 Pesos
asking $4,000 Pesos. Ajijic. Phone: 7662763.
FOR SALE: Canon power Shot S2

1S Camera. This is a great camera, but I
dropped it and zoom lens is locked in â&#x20AC;&#x153;outâ&#x20AC;?
position. Repair guys in Guad. wanted too
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by donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have means to get there/back so
opted for cheaper new one for my â&#x20AC;&#x153;point
and shootâ&#x20AC;? needs. Camera buffs will know
this one -- letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make a deal! (Have guide
book and install discs.) Call: 766-3580
:,// *,9( $:$< Hyundai Elantra
(2009) WIX Air Filter #49070. Sold car in
US but forgot to include the brand-new exWUDDLUÂżOWHU&DOO
:$17(' Looking for someone to
share a mailbox at the new Ishopmail located in the Laguna shopping center. Price:
$200 pesos per month. Call 766-5896.
FOR SALE: Pretty glass punch bowl complete service including cups, ladle and
glass stand for the bowl and for 18 people.
Price: $530 MXN. Call: 376- 766-1213.
FOR SALE: Black & Decker Professional Sander/Polisher. Used only once.
1300W, 7â&#x20AC;?, 180mm, 1000-3000rpm, 1.8m
cord. Polishing pad, wire scraper and
sandpaper incl. Pictures on request. Price:
$1,000 pesos. Call: 045-331-382-4771.
FOR LEASE: Shaw Account to Share
with another individual. Fee is for monthly
service only, you must have your own satellite dish and receiver. Monthly service is
the Silver Choice (East Coast) package,
bundles include: Lifestyle, Smart Stuff and
Real Life. If you want any additional programming, it is available at an additional
charge. Price: $40 U.S.
:$17(' Low Income Mexican family needs wheelchair for Grandmother with
broken hip. Prefer loaner for a few months
or low price to buy or rent. Call: 376-7635331.